MUM SAYS SHE'S GLAD SON IS IN JAIL

A mother who wanted her son jailed after he invaded the NT Parliament got
her wish yesterday.

Luke Masters, 20, was sentenced to 15 days in jail after he failed to
complete a community service order for his role in the invasion of
Parliament during a drug protest.

His mother, Sue St James, 44, told the Northern Territory News in June
after her son was fined $500 and ordered to perform 120 community service
hours that she wanted him to go to jail.

"Luke needed jail," she said. "Not just a slap on the wrist."

Last night Ms St James said Luke was a changed man. She said the change had
happened just as she had spoken out about his sentence.

"He's getting on with his life, he's a changed kid _ he's got a job waiting
for him now when he gets out," she said.

"After the Northern Territory News article _ he wanted to change his life,
he knew he'd done the wrong thing. I think it did give him a shock. I think
he realised he had to change his life or he'd lose his family."

Ms St James said the reason Masters did not complete community service was
because he had got a paid job.

But Ms St James said she still believed her son deserved his jail term.
"He's serving his time. He knows he's done the wrong thing," she said.

"He told his younger brother (aged 18) not to break the law because he
doesn't want him to end up in jail like he is."

Masters was one of seven people who invaded Parliament during a sitting in
Darwin in May last year. But he took only a small part.

Masters came before Magistrate Dick Wallace for re-sentencing, admitting
the breach of community work order and pleading guilty to three instances
of driving the same unregistered and uninsured car without a licence in
July this year.

"Three sets of traffic offences shows he is more interested in his own
convenience than the ... law," the magistrate said.

He imposed fines totalling $2300 and victim levies of $360 for the traffic
offences.

He revoked the community work order of 120 hours and on the basis of eight
hours a day sentenced Masters to 15 days' jail.