The availability of alternative care arrangements through family members (here, the offender's mother willing to provide full-time care) significantly diminishes the weight of hardship to children as a mitigating factor. The case confirms that children's difficulties such as speech therapy needs and separation anxiety from an already-imprisoned parent do not, without more, constitute the exceptional circumstances required by R v Chong to justify a wholly suspended sentence for serious money laundering. For money laundering of approximately $649,000 over more than two years as part of a cannabis syndicate, a period of actual custody is required notwithstanding a timely guilty plea, good character, and the impact on young children.
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