Labor’s bail changes threaten community safety

Shadow Attorney General, John Pesutto

Daniel Andrews’ weakening of bail laws will mean serious and potentially violent young offenders will be free to roam our streets.

These changes will force Victoria Police to pursue more young criminals by summons which means they will automatically be free in our community while they await trial.

At the moment, such offenders will have to appear before a court where decisions about whether to bail or remand them can be made.

Forcing Victoria Police to proceed by summons when charging young offenders means that the question of bail will not even arise.  Because of Daniel Andrews’ changes to bail, offenders charged with serious offences will continue to be free while they await trial.

Senior members of Victoria Police have voiced serious concerns about young criminals repeatedly breaching their bail and re-offending.

Daniel Andrews’ changes which also legalise the breaching of bail by young people, reverse the strong measure that the previous Coalition Government introduced to make it an offence for anyone, regardless of age, to breach their bail.

When the Andrews Government changed the Bail Act to bring in these two changes, the Coalition opposed them and moved amendments to take them out of the bill.

These laws have not commenced and there is still time to reverse them.

Quotes attributable to Shadow Attorney General John Pesutto:

Daniel Andrews’ changes to bail threaten community safety and send the worst possible message to young offenders that it is ok to breach your bail.

Instead of putting community safety first and sending the right message to young offenders, the Andrews Government has dramatically weakened our justice system and respect for the law.

Daniel Andrews needs to show leadership and accept that, like his decision to slash police numbers, his bail changes are a colossal mistake.
Media contact:  Michael Lewis      0433 495 454      michael.lewis@opposition.vic.gov.au