Death Penalty in Australia

The Death Penalty in Australia was Finally Abolished in 1985..

Nobody has been executed in Australia since 2 February 1967

QLD was the first to abolish the death penalty for all crimes in 1922.

NSW was the last in 1985. (NSW abolished the death penalty for murder in 1955, but retained the death penalty for treason and piracy until 1985.)

• One reason to oppose the death penalty is because ‘the law makes mistakes’, and a death penalty can’t be reversed, after execution. With some innocents having been executed, this is a valid reason.
• Others believe we should respect the sanctity of human life. However, how do we enforce this respect of the sanctity of human life on those criminals that wish to take human lives?

Law Council of Australia: www.lawcouncil.asn.au