Questions in Parliament today by National's Justice spokesperson Wayne Mapp revealed that the Government is not going to provide tougher sentencing guidelines to Judges for cases of child abuse or killing.

"The Minister of Justice has failed to assure the public that the sentencing guidelines in the proposed Sentencing and Parole Reform Bill will properly protect children," Dr Mapp said.

"Surely it is a simple enough matter for Parliament to make it very clear that children deserve special protection. Serious child abuse and child killing should attract severe sentences.

"Society's abhorrence of crimes against children should be reflected in the proposed bill.

"The New Zealand Law Society has been asking Parliament to provide clear sentencing guidelines to ensure those who kill children will be treated more severely than killers of adults. The New Zealand public has made its feelings crystal clear. But the Minister, who purports to be in touch with public feeling, has turned a deaf ear.

"Tougher sentences are an important tool to demonstrate that as a country we are serious about reducing the appalling child abuse and child killing statistics," Dr Mapp said.

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