Incest laws and punishment's

TO: The Australian Law Reform Commission & the Australian Government,



We, "the Australian public" wish to express our concerns regarding punishments of incestuous relationships. We "the Australian public" believe times have changed and the law needs to be adjusted accordingly. We "the Australian Public" believe severe punishments should be in place for people who conduct themselves in this manner. Not only is it immoral and unaccepted in the majority of the world, but also a total disgrace to Australia as a whole.



We "the Australian public" currently feel a great deal of disgust and shame as Australian residents, in regards to a recent story heard in the media of an actual incestuous relationship taking place in South Australia. Not only is this between father and daughter but there has been a baby born into this unacceptable relationship. As far as we "the Australian public" are concerned a "father" should never get away with such an act, molesting his daughter, adult or child, consent or no consent. We "the Australian public" ask you. Does the law currently protect children born from a father having intercourse with his daughter in a consensual relationship? We "the Australian public" believe possibly not as the 9 month old baby is still in the care of this father and daughter, and we "the Australia public" are quite concerned for her welfare, These fathers that condone this sort of behavior in our eyes are perhaps predators who should be punishable by the same tough punishments as a pedophile if not more severe. These types of situations are a complicated case of abuse of trust between father and daughter.



We "the Australian public" feel that the current punishment is not enough, thus the reason for this petition. There needs to be another clause to cover children's safety, that are born from this illegal and indecent act. We "the Australian public" strongly believe there is high possibility that, if a father engages himself in sexual intercourse with one daughter, which results in a child being born he may continue to do the same as he has done in the past, by engaging himself sexually with the "new" child. What government body is there to assure the safety of the "new" child? Not to mention the serious implements to maintaining mental stability in children born and raised in these types of situations.



Please think about this for a minute. After this particular father and daughter fronted court of south Australia not only were they allowed to continue raising their child together but also two children from a previous marriage and only fined $500 and ordered to not engage in sexual intercourse together anymore. Can you honestly believe that behind closed doors this father is abiding by that ruling, We " the Australian public" question whether to believe he and his daughter are living accordingly to the ruling as there is no way of verifying they have remained celibate with one another. We "the Australian public" believe they should be supervised whilst they are still caring for 3 young children if the children are to remain under their custody.



Now, after Australia heard of this incestuous relationship, does the Australian government honestly believe this ruling of the court is sending a good message to abusive and or molesting fathers? We "the Australian public" believe it is giving these types of abusive or and molesting fathers reasons to condone their behavior, as well as giving them real life reasons to convince their children that its ok to conduct themselves in this illegal manner, and to make it worst a reasonable belief that they to can get away with this type of behavior when their children become of age as long as they pay $500 and cease having intercourse when caught by authorities. Sorry to say, although we the Australian public" are not physiologist's we believe the possible mental and physiological damage has already been done by this stage, hence the reason we "the Australian public" are writing you this letter of petition.



The aim of this petition, is to bring to the Australian government, awareness of how we as Australian residents, do not condone this type of behavior, and wish to see the law changed to a more severe and just punishment, the harder the punishment, the less likely it will be to reoccur in the future.







The current law is as stated below :







"72Incest



Any persons who, being related, either as parent and child or as brother and sister,



have sexual intercourse with each other shall be guilty of incest and liable to be



imprisoned for a term not exceeding seven years."



We "the Australian public" believe this should be at least the minimum prison sentence not the maximum







"69Offences with animals



Any person who commits buggery with an animal shall be guilty of an offence and



liable to be imprisoned for a term not exceeding ten years"



Although this particular law (number 69- offences with animals) is not in relation to our complaint we "the Australian public" cant help thinking that animals are covered by a higher standard of law than that of a daughter/son or child/children, punishment for molesting an animal caries a higher maximum sentence.



Do we "the Australian government and its residents" as a whole of Australia wish to portray to the world watching us that we condone this behavior ? Or, do we "the Australian government and its residents" as a whole of Australia wish to make a stand and portray to the world that this act is immoral, indecent, inappropriate and most importantly unacceptable right here on Australian soil by introducing tougher punishments ?



Both examples of the current law are extracts from http://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/LZ/C/A/CRIMINAL\%20LAW\%20CONSOLIDATION\%20ACT\%201935/CURRENT/1935.2252.UN.PDF



So we put it to you "The Australian Law Reform Commission" & "The Australian Government" Please see it in the best interest of Australian residents, families and the hundred and thousands of visitors to our country every year to amend the law accordingly to impact much more severe punishments for this already illegal behavior and a even more severe punishment for bearing a child under this circumstances and of course most importantly not allowing people in these relationships to raise the children born to their incestuous acts.