The Death Penalty Debate in Australia: Past, Present, and Future

The debate over reinstating the death penalty in Australia has been ongoing since it was abolished in 1985. Despite no increase in homicides and murders after its abolition, public outcry continues to spark the discussion whenever a heinous crime is committed. Challenges such as high costs and past instances of innocent executions have prevented the death penalty from being restored in Australia. However, recent political leaders have suggested that it may be appropriate to reintroduce it. The fight against capital punishment in Australia remains unresolved since its abolition decades ago.

.

Contrary to concerns, data from the Australian Institute of Criminology indicates that eliminating the death penalty in Australia did not result in an increase in homicides. Before the abolition of capital punishment (1912-21), there were 131 murders in Queensland, a number comparable to the 129 murders recorded in the decade after abolition (1923-32).

According to Table 4 (Potas and Walker: 1987) from the Australian Institute of Criminology, data shows that abolishing the death penalty in Queensland did not lead to an increase in homicides and murders.

Get quality help now

Marrie pro writer

Verified writer

Proficient in: Australia

5 (204)

“ She followed all my directions. It was really easy to contact her and respond very fast as well. ”

+84 relevant experts are online

Hire writer

The table illustrates how the elimination of capital punishment impacted conviction rates for murder and manslaughter across Australia's main states. The statistics indicate that, with the exception of South Australia, there was no significant shift in homicide trends post-abolition. Therefore, reintroducing the death penalty in Australia is deemed unnecessary as it has not been shown to deter criminals.

The death penalty should not be brought back in Australia due to its high cost, which makes it a very expensive form of punishment.

Contrary to the belief that keeping a criminal in prison for life would be more costly than executing them, the reality is that capital punishment ultimately ends up being much more expensive than life imprisonment. The Australian Coalition Against Death Penalty (ACADP) is a human rights organization dedicated to completely abolishing the death penalty in Australia.

ACADP states that the expense of a capital case is significantly more than life imprisonment, with one capital case costing approximately $5.5 million compared to $1.5 million for 30 years of life imprisonment (ACADP: 2003). Simplifying the processes in the capital system could provide a less costly option for capital trials, but it also raises the risk of wrongful conviction and execution.

Abolishing the death penalty in Australia has a significant benefit of decreasing the risk of innocent people being executed, as demonstrated by Ronald Ryan's case in 1967. It was later discovered that Ryan could not have committed the murder he was accused of because of a defective rifle during his escape from Pentridge Prison (Hughes: 2007). This finding emphasizes how capital punishment can result in the mistaken killing of innocent individuals, violating their basic human rights. Hence, reinstating the death penalty in Australia would be unfair and morally unjust.

Despite the numerous arguments against the death penalty, the Australian government has been discussing the issue since it was abolished in 1985. In 2010, the Death Penalty Abolition Bill was debated in Federal Parliament with the aim of preventing any state from reintroducing capital punishment and transferring decision-making authority to the federal level. Prominent political figures like Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott have suggested scenarios where they believe that the death penalty could be justified. For example, Tony Abbott, who was then opposition leader, mentioned that in cases where an individual caused deaths of innocent people on a large scale, death might be considered as a suitable punishment (Williams: 2010).

There is growing support for the reintroduction of the death penalty in Australia, particularly following serious crimes. Surveys like the Australian National University's 2007 Electoral Survey show that 44% back its reinstatement (Williams: 2010), a notable increase from 1986 when only 26% supported it shortly after its abolition (Potas and Walker: 1987). These figures indicate that despite not having the death penalty currently, most Australians are in favor of bringing it back.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott believes in the necessity of the death penalty, but Australia has not experienced a rise in murders since abolishing it. The decision to maintain the ban on capital punishment is backed by various reasons, such as high expenses and the potential for wrongful executions. In conclusion, the government made the correct decision in ending it and opting against its reinstatement.

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY-

ANNOTATION 1-

The Australian Coalition Against Death Penalty held a discussion on 'The High Cost of Capital Punishment' in 2003 during an ABC Online Forum, which was watched on May 2, 2014.

The Australian Coalition Against Death Penalty utilizes data from reliable sources such as lawyers and court cases to estimate the financial disparities between capital punishment and life imprisonment. Their research aims to educate the public on the economic ramifications of reintroducing capital punishment in Australia, with a focus on potential tax consequences. While acknowledging that the numbers presented are rough estimates and do not factor in possible cost escalations, this article continues to be pertinent in advocating against capital punishment in Australia.

ANNOTATION 2-

Hughes, G 2007, 'Ronald Ryan did not kill a warder', The Australian, 21 December, viewed 31st May 2014,

Hughes delves into the case of Australia's final man to be hanged, Ronald Ryan, and the recent exoneration of his name after four decades. Utilizing information from Ryan's former partner in crime, the trial from 1967, and fresh scientific evidence, the writer exposes the ongoing mystery surrounding Ryan's involvement in the killing of a prison officer. The piece aims to inform audiences about the Australian Government's erroneous verdict on Ryan's guilt.

Hughes' article is a valuable resource for my essay, showing how the death penalty has resulted in the wrongful execution of innocent individuals. This argument is crucial in opposing the re-introduction of capital punishment in Australia. While focusing on a single case of an innocent man being executed in Australia, the article underscores the flawed judgment that can result in wrongful executions. Utilizing this source will enhance my essay by offering further evidence to debate the advantages and disadvantages of reinstating the death penalty in Australia.

ANNOTATION 3-

Potas, I & Walker, J 1987, 'Capital Punishment', Australian Institute of Criminology, viewed 31st May 2014,

Potas and Walker share information in this article to educate readers about the drawbacks of the death penalty and argue why the debate should end. They present reliable data to support their stance and aim to shift the reader's perspective. The article highlights past events and explains why the death penalty is unnecessary for punishing criminals.

This article is a valuable resource for my essay, supplying data and statistics to bolster the argument against reinstating the death penalty. Though written in 1987, shortly after the last Australian state abolished capital punishment, it offers insights that remain pertinent to current debates. While public opinion may have evolved since then, the factual information presented in this article remains unaltered and continues to be essential for my research. The well-organized presentation of compelling statistics and facts in this article will greatly strengthen my essay's argument.

ANNOTATION 4-

Williams, G 2010, 'No death penalty, no shades of grey' in Debate About Death Penalty, viewed 4th June 2014,

In this article, Williams addresses the ongoing debate surrounding the death penalty and highlights the significance of recent developments. Through interviews with Tony Abbott and surveys conducted over the past decade, the article illuminates that the death penalty remains a relevant issue in current society. The primary focus is on _The Death Penalty Abolition Bill_, a newly enacted measure designed to prevent any state from reinstating capital punishment.

This recent article is valuable for my research as it discusses the ongoing debate on capital punishment in Australia. While it lacks details on the demographics of those surveyed, it still offers significant information and updates on the topic.

BIBLIOGRAPHY-

The Australian Coalition Against Death Penalty held a forum on 'The High Cost of Capital Punishment' on May 2, 2014 at ABC Online.

On June 3, 2014, the website of the Australian Coalition Against Death Penalty (http://acadp.com/) was visited.

The movie Death Penalty was released in 2014 and watched on June 2nd of the same year.

Hughes (2007) disputes The Australian's statement on 21 December accusing Ronald Ryan of killing the warder. This information was obtained on 31st May 2014.

Potas, I & Walker, J 1987, 'Capital Punishment', Australian Institute of Criminology, viewed 31st May 2014,