Confirmation that a convicted terrorist has been released early from prison confirms the community safety consequences of Labor’s failure to properly manage Victoria’s prisons during COVID-19.
Convicted terrorist Adam Brookman has been released nine months early due to the application of ‘emergency management days’. These are days off an inmate’s sentences due to COVID-19 lockdowns and measures within Victorian prisons.
Throughout COVID-19, emergency management days have been awarded to inmates on a one-for-one basis for every day of lockdown served. Yet, given new inmates are only required to isolate for 14 days, serious questions remain as to how this individual was able to amass nine months of sentence discounts.
In July 2020, the Victorian Liberal Nationals warned that thousands of inmates convicted of serious offences could be released from prison early due to Labor’s mis-management of Victorian prisons during COVID-19.
Daniel Andrews’ failure to run an effective and safe corrections system during COVID-19 is seeing hardened criminals walk free from prison early and has placed the safety of the community at unacceptable risk.
The Victorian Liberal Nationals call for the immediate suspension of Labor’s COVID-19 emergency management day program pending a review of their application and community safety consequences.
Comments attributable to Shadow Minister for Corrections, David Southwick:
“It’s simply unacceptable that a convicted terrorist is gifted a nine month sentence reduction for being in jail during COVID times.
“With sentence discounts being handed out left, right and centre, under Daniel Andrews it’s clearly criminals first and community safety a distant second.
“Victorians have every right to be deeply worried by this case and the Victorian Liberal Nationals are calling for an immediate suspension of this program pending a comprehensive review that puts community safety first.”
