Probation costly failure

A MAGISTRATE said there is “very limited point” in putting offenders on probation, given a lack of resources.

Magistrate Ross Mack made the comments while sentencing a Burdekin man yesterday for breaching a domestic violence order.

The 44- year- old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced in Townsville Magistrates Court over an incident involving him grabbing hold of a woman’s shoulders while she was in the front of a car, then running from police.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of contravention of a domestic violence order and obstructing a police officer.

The court heard the man was on a suspended sentence at the time of the incident on January 27.

Mr Mack criticised the way the man’s probation had been monitored, saying there were “no resources extended”.

“This relationship has cost the state of Queensland thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars,” he said.

“You would have thought that would have been a perfect opportunity to get something done but ... he’s on monthly reporting three months after he’s been inducted.”

Mr Mack said the man had complied with everything he was asked to do on probation “which was next to nothing”.

“It’s no reflection on him, it’s just the parlous state of probation programs in this state, certainly around Townsville,” he said.

Defence solicitor Terry Browne submitted that if the man was on parole, there would be “someone keeping an eye on him”.

Mr Mack said a primary condition of probation was not to commit offences.

“That said, you didn’t give the benefit of much probation, because there’s nothing there to give you,” he said.

“It limits that sentencing option so significantly ... there’s very limited point in probation I would think at this stage unless there’s new programs put in place or funding set aside for probation officers.”

The man was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment for the January 27 contravention of a domestic violence order, one month for obstructing a police officer and six months for the suspended sentence of contravention of a domestic violence order.

He will be eligible for parole from April 26.