The real question is: do voters take any notice at all of law and order politicking prior to an election.

Politicians can huff and puff about being tough on crime as much as they like. The fact remains that law and order is in the hands of un-elected judges and magistrates over whom the politicians have absolutely no control. We have “mandatory” life sentences for murder, but parole periods are set. How ridiculous! We have “tough” penalties on the books for all sorts of things, but a judge or magistrate can still decide to let offenders off with a good behaviour bond, or a suspended sentence.

Voters are not turned off by law and order rhetoric. They are turned off by the unaccountable, arrogant and out of touch mediocrities who are supposed to be administering the law, and who are being paid too much for failing to do so.

A group that has as one of its components representatives who believe that a man of about 95kg could walk on water shouldn't talk about trickery.

Leigh.."Tough on Crime" is the Aussie equivalent of the Philippino slogun "We will rid the country of corruption" :)

They both have an equal chance of happening.

I also think they are both equally insulting to an increasingly educated voting population.

VALUES is where most of us are scratching I think...and a healthy slice OFF Stamp Duty would not go astray either.. (Thanx Steve B) but I'd not elect him simply for the 3 grand he would save me.

In the Libs I see typical 'vote conscious' populism rather than serious policy, so I'll probably vote for FF in our MARGINAL seat :)
VALUES VALUES VALUES....

"A good name is better than great riches." (Prov 22:1)

"A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred lashes into a fool" (Prov 17:10)

"Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife". (Prov 17:1)

Another long article from the crimminals perspective that fails to even refer to the victims of crime. How on earth does poor old Maggie get a bagging for the state of crime in the UK. Sorry Mr Kelly you need to go and speak to people who have lost loved ones to murder, to woman who have been raped, to people who have had needles and guns held at their heads. I have spoken to dozens of crimminals in the past and very few have any remorse or thought for the victims. All they want to know is how they can manipulate the system to get their sentences reduced.

BD, you quoated..."A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred lashes into a fool" (Prov 17:10)" but most of our young offenders are anything but fools. They're manipulative, belligerent, self centered and totally uncaring about those around them. Quite often, kids turn out this way because of poor parenting somewhere along the way coupled with a lack of respect and discipline . Still, for those wayward youths, girls included, a few strokes of the lash would make them think twice before causing harm to others ever again. The jail system only make them smarter and better able to get away with re-offending next time.

It’s amazing how much Western countries focus on law and order, yet, whatever approaches are taken, particularly in the Anglo countries UK, Australia, Canada and the USA, seem not to stem an apparently ever rising level of disrespect for rules, petty theft and unsolicited violence. On the one hand are the conservatives, who demand the strictest of punishment to deter crime, while on the other hand are the warm and fuzzy socialist set, who insist upon compassionate approaches to wean offenders out of their bad ways. Neither approach has made our society better or safer. Whenever a shocking incident occurs, the media and the public vent outrage at the perpetrators. But who is really to blame? I think we all are. My observations in Australia lead me to believe there is something fundamentally wrong with our culture and mentality. We seem overly self-focused, only caring about our own rights and possessions. The result is a dog-eat-dog existence, wherein though we may want to consider others, we know we will be trampled on by another who does not. I see the evidence of our sick mentality everyday in the filthy streets, the litter, vandalism, graffiti, unruly school kids, road rage, & etc, making Australia a really repulsive place in which to live. Sure there are many decent people, but it is our underlying mentality and the environment we create that paves the way for crime. Perhaps “sage” and the rest of us ought to pay more attention to the philosophy of the man who supposedly walked on the water, whether we believe him or not, rather and resorting to ridicule, because it would sure make our society more pleasant. Sadly, I don’t see things improving.