When sentencing for historical sexual offences committed in the early 1980s, non-parole periods were commonly fixed at between one-third and one-half of total sentences, and the approach to accumulation and concurrence was more lax than after Pearce v The Queen. Full accumulation of effective sentences imposed on separate occasions without adjustment of the non-parole period ratio requires explanation by the sentencing judge. An effective non-parole period of 81% of the total sentence for historical offences is unreasonably high absent reasons.
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