The prescription of a standard non-parole period for an offence does not displace the principle that a District Court judge may have regard to the maximum penalty available in the Local Court when sentencing for an offence capable of summary disposal. The Palmer principle is a rule of law that must be taken into account, and it has greater influence as objective criminality falls below the mid-range and as the subjective criminality of the offender assumes more significance. A sentencing judge must fix an appropriate sentence for each offence individually before considering cumulation or concurrence, and the existence of multiple offences does not of itself justify a custodial sentence for an offence that would not individually warrant one.
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