The word tough threatens to delay Jacinta Allan’s bail crackdown

Jacinta Allan is facing a new hurdle in her bid to push new bail laws through parliament as a single word emerges as a new point of contention.

The Allan government is facing a new hurdle in its desperate bid to race through new bail laws, with the opposition gaining support from the crossbench to make a key change to the legislation’s naming.

MPs are gearing up for a long night at parliament on Thursday after Premier Jacinta Allan warned they wouldn’t leave the precinct until the bill — called the Tough Bail Bill — is passed.

But the opposition is now seeking to move an amendment to strip the word ‘tough’ from the naming of the bill.

The move has support from some independent MPs, with the progressive crossbench such as the Greens and Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell considering voting for the change.

The word “tough” has become a new point of contention in the Allan-government’s planned bail crackdown. Picture: Supplied

But Premier Jacinta Allan lashed the bid accusing the opposition of “playing political games”.

“There’s a question for the Liberal Party on why they’re focused on semantics not outcomes,” she said.

“Don’t keep shifting the goalpost.

“Don’t get out in the liquid paper pen and cross out words.

“Get up and do the work.”

Deputy Liberal leader in the upper house Evan Mulholland said there was merit in stripping the word “tough” from the wording of the bill.

“Because it’s not tough enough,” he said.

“Under this government, crime is out of control, and community safety is a serious concern, and ultimately, this government, this bill does not make the laws as strong as pre March 2023, when Jacinta Allen weakened our bail laws.”

Jacinta Allan has accused the opposition of playing politics with the bail bill. Picture: Luis Ascui

Mr Mulholland said he’d “brought the pyjamas” and was “ready to stay however long it takes to get tougher bail laws” through.

Senior minister Harriet Shing — who sits in the upper house — said she was planning for a caffeine-fuelled day and night to push the bill through.

“We will sit for as long as it takes to pass the bail reforms in the Legislative Council,” she said.

Greens MP Katherine Copsey said the minor party was considering supporting the Coalition’s push to change the name, which is among a series of proposed amendments.

“We’re considering amendments that have been circulated, as I’ve said, this bill has come through in a very rushed and panicked fashion,” she said.

“Maybe it should be called the Panicked Bail Bill,” she said.

Originally published as The word tough threatens to delay Jacinta Allan’s bail crackdown