RESERVATIONS about proposed new laws handing a mandatory minimum jail term to drivers who kill or injure someone while fleeing police have been aired in Western Australia's parliament.
After a recent series of shocking deaths during police pursuits on Perth roads, WA police minister Liza Harvey last month introduced new legislation designed to protect officers from prosecution if they injured or killed another person during a chase - as long as they were driving reasonably and in accordance with force guidelines.
Under the proposal, drivers who kill or injure other road users while being chased by police would face a minimum 12 months in jail.
A minimum six months' detention would apply to those charged with reckless driving while fleeing police, which is defined as exceeding the posted speed limit by 45km/h or more or driving over 155km/h.
Opposition police spokeswoman Michelle Roberts said Labor supported rapid passage of the bill, but it still had reservations.
Ms Roberts has repeatedly asked for an example of anyone in WA who had received less than the proposed mandatory sentences for hurting or killing another road user during a police chase.
Opposition spokesman for state development and energy Bill Johnston told parliament he understood there were no such examples, and invited to be corrected.
"As the member for Midland (Ms Roberts) outlined, actually the (proposed) minimum sentence is less than the person would get anyway in the circumstance of these sorts of tragic accidents," Mr Johnston told parliament on Tuesday.
"The penalties are already above the minimum in any case.
"This law makes some small changes around the edges that allows the minister to say that she's acting."
Ms Roberts said it was important to deal with the bill on Tuesday because it was in the interests of police officers and it was the last opportunity to pass it in the final sitting days of parliament for the year.
The police union had previously threatened to suspend themselves from any more pursuits if new laws were not brought in.
The legislation will become law next week if it is passed late on Tuesday, as expected.
Ms Harvey said drivers who fled police didn't tend to do so because they were panicking, rather they had no drivers licence, had criminal convictions or were under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
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