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Weekly updates


The government of Western Australia has today pushed for harsh new laws against graffiti vandals with punishments now extending to fines of $24,000 and jail time for offences. The Graffiti Vandalism Bill comes as a part of a Liberal election commitment to toughen penalties for vandals, and creates a stand-alone graffiti vandalism charge which can attract up to two years imprisonment. Think the $700 dollar ‘possession of graffiti implement’ fines in Victoria are bad? Also, part of the new overhaul of laws and penalties designed to ‘deter graffiti vandals’ are $6,000 fines if a person is found guilty to be in possession of a graffiti implement to cause damage in WA.

The show-pony of the new anti graffiti laws however, comes with the introduction of a mandatory graffiti clean up order if one is found guilty of a vandalism offence. Police Minister Liza Harvey detailed that the new laws were intended to “make the punishment fit the crime”, a statement which is, at best, arguable.

If you are caught doing graffiti and happen to have a smartphone or laptop on you, it’s fair to say you can say goodbye to that for a fair while too under the new laws. What a great time to be a graffiti writer in Perth.

Luke Karakas

[Via.]

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