SA Criminal Assets Confiscation Bill aimed at 'tackling drug lords' stalls for fourth time
The South Australian Government and Opposition have again reached a stalemate over a bill that was introduced five years ago and aims to bankrupt drug dealers.
Key points:
- The SA Government introduced a bill that would confiscate drug dealers' assets in 2011
- It was put before Parliament again in 2012, 2014 and 2016
- The Opposition is pushing for amendments that include funds going to victims of crime
It is the fourth time since 2011 that the parties have butted heads about the Criminal Assets Confiscation (Prescribed Drug Offenders) Bill.
Attorney-General John Rau told Parliament on Wednesday the proposed legislation was aimed at bankrupting drug dealers and confiscating their assets, but Opposition's amendments in the Upper House had "neutered" the bill.
"It's the fourth time we've been neutered by a bunch of softies, a bunch of softies who care more about the sensibility of spivs who sell drugs to kids than they care about ruining and bankrupting these people," Mr Rau said.
"They use every excuse in the book but the fact remains that the Liberals are not prepared to tackle drug lords head on."
Opposition spokesperson Vickie Chapman said the Liberal Party did not have a problem with the intent of the bill, just that the money raised would go to treasury.
She said an amendment effectively proposed that 50 per cent of the money go to the Victims of Crime Fund.
"It tells us entirely what the budget situation is, namely it's in a deplorable state and they will rape and pillage whatever they can," Ms Chapman said.
"I think the Attorney-[General] is furious not because he's not getting his own way, but because he's not getting the money.
"They will harvest money from any quarter they can find and at this stage it's criminals and we say 'good on you, take them but give it to the people who deserve it'."
Opposition pushes for review of assets confiscated
Ms Chapman said the Opposition was also concerned there would be no judicial review of the assets that were confiscated.
"We agree that serious criminals should pay the price but there's got to be a protection mechanism by a review and secondly at least half the money should be quarantined for victims," she said.
The Opposition has pushed for similar amendments each time the bill has been before Parliament, which included 2011, 2012, 2014 and the current legislation.
Mr Rau said the Opposition had stated its support for a crackdown on drug dealers in its party policy document called 2036, but was not following through.
"They're [the Opposition] not Coke, they're not even Pepsi, they are not the real thing," he said.
"They're prepared to go out there with all fine sounding waffle about 'we're tough on drugs, we want to crack down on the source of drugs' but then when it comes to it, do they man up and have a go? No."
The Government said it was not giving up on the reform, but was yet to decide how to proceed.