Why did Australia stop using the Death Penalty in 1973?

Question

Don't get me wrong, I strongly oppose it, but I'm just wondering why they stopped using it. Was there an event that caused the change in legislation? Or was it just a change in attitude?

Answer 1

It appears that it was a change in attitude that had been brewing for some time. The last person executed in Australia was a mentally defective jail escapee, who was all edged to have fired a shot killing a prison guard. It later turned out it was his partner in the escape that had committed the crime, a little late as old mate had already been killed.

I guess it left a pretty sour taste in every ones mouth.

The sad part about it all is that there is an increasing support for the death penalty particularly in the case of people like Denis Ferguson. With people like Ferguson it is a fairly compelling argument given the rapidity with which he reoffender after his last jail release.