Iemma steps in to protect lifesavers
From: By Linda Silmalis and Marnie O'Neill
December 11, 2005
THUGS who bash surf lifesavers will face 25-year jail terms under changes to sentencing laws to be made in the wake of beach violence at Cronulla.
Premier Morris Iemma told The Sunday Telegraph yesterday the tougher sentences were designed to send a strong message to troublemakers.
The move came as police, political and Muslim leaders pleaded with ethnic gangs and local youths planning retaliation to stay away from the beach.
Under the present Crimes Act, offenders found guilty of assault face jail sentences of between two and 25 years, with the length of the jail term dependent on the offender's intent and the damage caused.
The Government will amend the Act to make the offence of assaulting a lifeguard an aggravating factor, with offenders to face the tougher end of the penalty scale.
Mr Iemma said the amendment, to be made when State Parliament resumed next year, would also apply to volunteers performing community work.
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"Those who selflessly give up their time to save people in distress on the beach should not be considered easy targets by thugs and hooligans," he said.
About 40 police - including officers from the Operational Support Group, officers on bicycles and mounted police - spent yesterday patrolling the beach.
Hundreds of locals sported T-shirts emblazoned with the Australian flag, while others hung patriotic banners from beachfront units in an apparent gesture of solidarity.
Local surfer Daniel, 24, was pleased to see the Australian emblems on show. "This is a bit of a special weekend for us," he said.
"It's good to see everyone wearing their Aussie gear and getting together - not to fight, but just to say g'day to each other."
Daniel attributed the racial tension to terrorism.
His flatmate, Luke, 25, said locals resented large groups of visitors from the western suburbs because they trashed the beach and intimidated local women.
A heavy police presence is again expected at North Cronulla today in response to an inflammatory text message that has been potentially sent to hundreds of people. Warnings of impending drive-by shootings in the area have been circulating on the Internet.
Sydney Islamic youth leader Fadi Rahmen said the Muslim community was just as opposed to the violence as Cronulla residents.
He said Cronulla had been popular with Muslim families for many years, but many of them were too frightened to visit the beach now because of the threat of abuse.
