Government Senator: Soldier-police Bill is good law

Temporary Government Senator, Mr. Wayne Sturge, says the traditional role of the army is changing.

In his maiden contribution to the debate on the Miscellaneous Provisions Defence and Police Complaints Bill 2013 in the Upper House on Tuesday, the attorney said it is not a question whether the army is a killing machine but how much fear the army will instill in criminals.

“I can’t count it, the matters of persons shooting at police. You know what I can’t count in my 15 years? Anyone shooting at the soldiers. Monkey know what tree to climb.”

In many instances, Senator Sturge said when soldiers show up at the scene of a crime, the criminals are afraid.

“Everything stops. Is there really a legitimate fear that the soldiers would act irresponsibly, when they have never acted irresponsibly with the existing powers of arrest to already have? That is an indictment on the soldiers.”

The Government senator also called on the opposition to put their differences aside and support the legislation.

“When we look dispassionately, we realise that this is good law. It’s good law because additional powers are being given and it’s good law because additional protections and immunities are being given, and it is only with a sense of fairness that we are policing this.”

C-News