NSW: Penalty for child sexual intercourse increases to life
07 May 2009 12:19 AM
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SYDNEY, May 6 AAP - Life in prison is to be the penalty in NSW under new legislation for sexual intercourse with a child under 10 during a break in.
The state government will introduce legislation on Thursday to raise the jail sentences from 25 years to life.
The increase follows a case at Grafton on the NSW mid north coast in which a man assaulted a young girl while she slept at her grandmother's house.
NSW Attorney General John Hatzistergos says sex offences against a child were an "abhorrent crime" and children had a right to feel safe in their own homes.
"It is important we amend the law when crimes of this magnitude happen to ensure that the penalty is in proportion to what occurred," Mr Hatzistergos said in a statement.
The new legislation also includes a provision to criminalise attempts to commit domestic violence offences such as stalking, intimidating and breaching apprehended violence orders (AVOs).
