MELBOURNE, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Three Australian government ministers have been compelled to appear before Victoria's Supreme Court after criticising the state's judicial system, it was revealed on Thursday.
Federal Health Minister Greg hunt, Human Services Minister Alan Tudge and Assistant to the Treasury Michael Sukkar all criticised Victoria in the media in June for being weak on sentences for terrorism offences.
In a letter to Attorney-General (AG) George Brandis, the three men were all summoned to appear in Victoria's Court of Appeal on Friday.
The ministers made comments about the Victorian judiciary system after the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) challenged a 10-year sentence, with a minimum of 7.5 years, handed to convicted terrorist plotter Sevdet Besim.
Hunt told Australian media that Victorians should feel "deeply" concerned about Besim's sentence.
"Comments by senior members of the Victorian courts endorsing and embracing shorter sentences for terrorism offences are deeply concerning, deeply concerning," he said in June.
"The state courts should not be places for ideological experiments in the face of global and local threats from Islamic extremism that has led to such tragic losses."
The three ministers could be found to have been in contempt of court by undermining public confidence in the court system.
If found guilty of contempt of court the ministers could find up to six months imprisonment or a maximum fine of 3,000 U.S. dollars.
