NSW SENTENCING REFORM

A court reporting investigation that exposed a gap in NSW sentencing laws for historical crimes. The reporting triggered law reforms affecting the way offenders are sentenced today.

While covering the sentencing of serial rapist Gregory John Richardson, I noticed the judge was bound by historical sentencing laws and could not impose the tougher sentence available if the same offences had been committed today.

After the hearing, I contacted the victims and slowly gained their trust. They spoke to me about their frustration with the laws, the lifelong impact of sexual violence and why they believed the sentence should reflect that harm.

My reporting prompted the NSW Attorney-General to order a review of the sentencing laws. The laws were later changed with Richardson’s sentencing specifically cited in Parliament when the reforms were introduced.