The NSW Liberal Party won the 2011 NSW state election ousting the former Labor Government. It can be seen throughout and after the election that differing media sources have been used to persuade and influence the general public about law and order issues.
Over the course of the campaign both Liberal and Labor parties utilised a diverse range of media forms. Both parties used radio, television, newspaper, billboard, and social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook, blogging and YouTube.
Throughout the campaign the Liberal Government advertised a ‘blitz on crime’. Key policy decisions include an additional 550 police officers, an aim to target alcohol related violence, strengthening ‘move on’ powers, the addition of new drunk and disorderly offences, the establishment of a new drug court and a metropolitan drug treatment centre, a commitment to reducing the state’s high reoffending rates and a plan to stop school bullying.
After being elected in to Government The NSW Liberal Party introduced a bill to mandatorily sentence offenders accused of murdering a police officer.
(see previous blog)
The NSW Liberal party also has sought to introduce a system in which graffiti offenders found guilty are sentenced to stay in L place and P plates longer by reducing their demerit points and disqualifying them from driving.
Do you have anything to add about this? Can you go beyond reporting what happened and add some critique or reflection. For examples, did the policies advanced fit into what we discussed in the week on the nexus between crime and politics? Did they feed into commonsense understandings of law and order, or challenge them? Why are law and order policies the bread and butter of state election campaigns? You need to offer more, provide insight, analyse, assess, etc.
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