A sentencing judge who states an intention to reduce non-parole periods for delay must give effect to that intention, and a failure to do so (while simultaneously finding no special circumstances) constitutes error. The Bugmy principles regarding deprived backgrounds apply to foreign nationals sentenced in Australia, and a sentencing judge must consider the individual subjective circumstances of each co-offender rather than treating them as undifferentiated. The absence of an Australian criminal record for a foreign national who offends shortly after arrival in Australia is of minimal significance and does not of itself entitle the offender to leniency, particularly where the offender has committed other uncharged offences in Australia.
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