The premier says “all laws” will be considered in the latest review of the state’s bail laws. But she was unable to answer basic questions on the scope of the coming assessment.
The premier says “all laws” will be considered in the latest review of the state’s bail laws. But she was unable to answer basic questions on the scope of the coming assessment.
By Rachel Eddie
February 4, 2025 — 11.27am
Premier Jacinta Allan has ordered another review of Victoria’s bail laws but was unable to answer basic and repeated questions on an assessment’s scope, while claiming the latest reform in a series of about-faces on justice was working.
“Crime hurts working people and their families, particularly families that work so hard for what they’ve got. And it’s simply unacceptable to me that many Victorians, particularly women and children, aren’t feeling as safe as they should,” Allan said on Tuesday.
“It’s clear to me that we need to go further.”
Allan said while everything was on the table for review, that did not mean she necessarily wanted more alleged offenders remanded without bail.
The Crime Statistics Agency in December revealed incidents of crime had reached the highest level since records began in Victoria.
Domestic violence offences reached an all-time high, up 10.4 per cent in the year to September 2024 to more than 100,000 incidents.
Crimes committed by children also hit a 15-year peak, up 16.9 per cent in the year.
Allan would not be drawn on which crimes alleged offenders were being bailed too often, or what specifically wasn’t working, but that “all laws” would be considered. Alleged perpetrators of violent crimes should already be remanded in custody under existing laws.
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“We need to respond to what we’re hearing from the community and act decisively, firmly, strongly to support those working families, to support women and children that don’t feel safe,” Allan said.
Labor faces a challenge in Saturday’s Werribee byelection following the resignation of former treasurer Tim Pallas, and statewide Resolve Political Monitor polling for The Age last month showed the government’s primary vote had slumped to an estimated 22 per cent.
Allan rejected suggestions the bail announcement was cooked up in response.
A Labor source, speaking anonymously to discuss internal party matters, said crime was coming up for all MPs doorknocking around the state and while it was also an issue in Werribee, there was a consensus in the party that the government needed to take stronger action on crime to respond to statewide concerns.
The source was expecting comprehensive bail reform.
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Allan asked Police Minister Anthony Carbines and new Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny to undertake the review.
The latest iteration of bail reforms came into effect on December 10. Under those changes, the government created a new offence for committing a serious crime while on bail – after abolishing it a year earlier following a damning coronial inquiry into the death of an Aboriginal woman in custody.
The bail test was strengthened to make clear that a person should be remanded if there is an unacceptable risk they could commit aggravated burglary, carjacking, dangerous driving or family violence.
The government had already dumped plans to make it easier for children to get bail from last year’s broader bail reform bill. Those changes were to be included in the stand-alone youth justice bill, but the commitment was scrapped in March.
Allan in August dumped the promise to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 14, moving it only from 10 to 12.
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Rachel Eddie is a Victorian state political reporter for The Age. Previously, she was a city reporter and has covered breaking news.Connect via Twitter or email.
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