THE federal and state governments were unmoved by a United Nations committee's finding that the life sentence handed to two killers of Cronulla bank teller Janine Balding 27 years ago were "cruel, inhumane and degrading".
Bronson Blessington was 14 and Matthew James Elliott 16 in 1988 when they committed the offences.
Together with Stephen "Shorty" Jamieson, 22, they abducted Ms Balding from a Sutherland car park and, after repeatedly raping her, drowned her in a dam at Minchinbury.
The UN Human Rights Committee found late last year the sentence breached the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as there was no genuine chance of release, even if they were fully rehabilitated.
The committee said the sentence also breached the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
A spokesman for state Attorney- General Gabrielle Upton said the government consulted with the federal government on its response to the UN committee.
"The NSW government is not considering any legislative changes," he said.
The federal government made no concessions in its formal response, which simply outlined the sentencing legislation.
Ms Balding's brother David said the three men should never be released from jail.
"They have nothing to offer society," he said. "They planned it. They knew what they were doing."
Mr Balding said the fact that two of them were juveniles made no difference to him.
He said Wayne Wilmot, another member of the gang, who was convicted only of rape, was paroled after serving 7½ years, but was sent back to jail after committing further rapes.
The convicted men have just one chance at freedom.
In 2018, after serving 30 years of their sentences, they can apply to the Supreme Court for a non-parole period to be set.
They are limited to one application. If it is refused, they can appeal to the Court of Criminal Appeal.
TRIBUTE TO VICTIM
Sutherland Shire residents are being urged to visit the roadside memorial to Janine Balding next Tuesday, September 8, on the anniversary of the attack.
The memorial is in Toronto Parade, across from Olsens funeral home. Visits have been encouraged by Scott Bugden, an Ultimo resident with no connection to the Balding family, who set up a Facebook page dedicated to Ms Balding’s memory.
