Anthony Albanese concedes ‘wrong decision’ made before grandmother’s alleged bashing

In a fiery grilling on Sunrise, the PM was pressed on a decision to release a former detainee on bail before he allegedly bashed an elderly woman.

Anthony Albanese has conceded a board set up to manage ex-detainees released by the High Court made the “wrong decision” in not recommending an ankle bracelet for a man who allegedly attacked a Perth grandmother.

The Prime Minister was pressed on the issue this morning while appearing on Sunrise, with host Nat Barr questioning the Commonwealth community protection board’s decision: “surely a failure?”.

“Yes, it is. I think that’s a wrong decision by that board, but they make the decisions,” Mr Albanese said.

Sunrise co-host Natalie Barr. Picture: Rohan Kelly

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese conceded the decision lacked common sense. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

Cancer survivor and grandmother Ninette Simons has become the face of debate surrounding the management of former detainees across the country after she was allegedly beaten in a home invasion.

Prosecutors allege three men conned their way into the home of Ms Simons and her husband Philip by pretending to be police officers.

Police allege Mr Simons was tied up and his wife bashed before $200,000 worth of jewellery was stolen.

Kuwaiti-born Majid Jamshidi Doukoshkan was charged for his alleged involvement in the attack.

Ninette Simons, the victim of an assault and burglary in the Perth suburb of Girrawheen

He was one of 154 detainees released last year after the landmark NZYQ ruling in the High Court, which found indefinite detention was unlawful.

There has been pressure on federal ministers, including Immigration Minister Andrew Giles, after it was revealed Mr Doukoshkan had breached his curfew conditions in February and prosecutors did not oppose his release on bail.

On Friday, Barr and the Prime Minister spoke about proposals to change bail laws in the wake of an epidemic of violence against women in Australia.

Barr then turned to the case of Ms Simons’ alleged attack and the decisions that led to Mr Doukoshkan being in the community.

Ministers Clare O'Neil and Andrew Giles have come under pressure in the past week. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“Commonwealth prosecutors apparently did not oppose bail in that circumstance in Perth,” Barr said.

“Your own government board did not recommend an ankle bracelet. Is it time your minister was sacked?”

Mr Albanese responded saying there was a separation of the judicial system and government, and that he didn’t agree with the decision.

“But if it was up to me I assure you that there wouldn’t have been bail granted in that case,” he said.

“But these things are done independently by the Director of Public Prosecutions. And in consultation with the AFP (Australian Federal Police).

“That wasn’t a decision of Government, Nat, and I’m saying that I am just as upset about that decision as you are.”

The PM said the decision “lacks common sense” and was sure it would on the agenda when Attorneys-General met today to discuss changes to bail laws across the country.

“We recognise that community safety is the absolute priority,” he said.

“My heart goes out to Ninette. Number one should be … no one should be subject to that sort of violence.

“It is an outrage that this occurred and my government is committed to doing what we can to address these issues.”

Originally published as Anthony Albanese concedes ‘wrong decision’ made before grandmother’s alleged bashing