Wednesday 10 July 2024
Labor’s weakening of bail laws needs to be reversed
In March this year, the Allan Labor Government’s weakened bail laws came into effect.
The tragic consequences of this ideological decision are now there for all Victorians to see.
Innocent Victorians are dying while serious offending, including youth offending, is getting worse.
Labor needs to admit that it got bail badly wrong, apologise to Victorians and fix its mess.
As a starting point, the Allan Labor Government should immediately reinstate the Bail Act offences of ‘committing indictable offence whilst on bail’ (former section 30B) and ‘contravene bail condition’ (former section 30A).
Doing so will mean that repeat serious offenders will face a much tougher test for remaining on bail and that failure to comply with bail conditions will lead to consequences.
Shadow Attorney-General, Michael O’Brien, said: “Labor’s political ego is not more important than the safety of Victorians.
“It is time for Premier Jacinta Allan and Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes to admit their weakening of bail laws has failed Victorians.
“If Labor refuses to act, the Liberals and Nationals will propose legislative changes to reinstate the bail offences that Labor scrapped in March this year.”