WA Labor parole crackdown to ensure life means life

• Criminals sentenced to life to remain on parole forever under tough Cook Labor Government reforms
• Major parole shakeup to boost community safety and fairness
• Reforms to Prisoners Review Board to enhance transparency and the role of victims in decision making

A re-elected Cook Labor Government will launch a tough parole crackdown to ensure criminals handed a life sentence remain on parole for the rest of their lives.

The crackdown will bolster community safety and deliver justice for victims by ensuring serious criminals are never discharged from their life sentence.

The parole reforms will mean so-called “lifers” who are released on parole will remain subject to parole for the remainder of their life, and acknowledges victims of crime live with their experience, long after criminals are released from prison.

In addition, the Cook Labor Government will reform the Prisoners Review Board to enhance transparency and enhance the role of victims in decision making. This includes empowering victims by compelling the Board to give substantial weight to victims’ views, legislating for independent victim representatives on the board and giving victims greater access to information about an offender.

The announcement builds on the historic “No body, no parole” reforms passed in the Labor Government’s first term that were designed to boost community safety and acknowledge victims’ trauma.

Comments attributed to Premier Roger Cook:

“Life should mean life – and that’s exactly what my tough parole crackdown will deliver."

“Criminals are handed a life sentence for a reason and that’s what they should get. They should not be afforded the privilege of absolute freedom when victims and their families have to live with their experiences."

“This is about doing what’s right for WA - doing what’s right for victims of crime and keeping our community safe."

“My parole crackdown complements the historic ‘No body, no parole’ laws delivered by WA Labor that ensure victims and their families are front and centre when it comes to justice."

“It is what the community demands – it is what WA Labor will deliver.”