‘It is clear to me that we need to go even further’: Jacinta Allan makes big call on bail laws
Premier Jacinta Allan has ordered a major review of bail laws as she concedes more must be done to tackle Victoria’s youth crime crisis.
Victoria
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Jacinta Allan has conceded Victoria’s bail laws are too soft and has ordered an immediate review of current settings and failings.
Amid a worsening crime crisis that some government insiders say has contributed to its record low polling numbers, the Premier has asked Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny and Police Minister Anthony Carbines to review current bail laws.
It comes less than six months after new crime laws passed parliament that made it harder for violent youths to be released into the community.
But Ms Allan said it was now clear more needed to be done to address community safety.
“Crime hurts working people and families, they’ve worked so hard for what they’ve got,” she said.
“Last year, we introduced new laws to deliver tougher consequences for serious, repeat offenders.
“These changes are already making a difference. It is clear to me that we need to go even further. There are still too many Victorians – especially women and children – who don’t feel safe.
“That is unacceptable to me. Everyone has the right to live and work safely.
“Anyone who endangers that right must feel the consequences.”
Under changes introduced late last year, bail laws were toughened to require magistrates and judges to refuse bail where there was an unacceptable risk a person would commit a serious crime.
Those crimes include aggravated burglary or robbery, dangerous driving, carjacking or home invasion.
Repeat offenders also face tougher laws, with a new offence of committing particularly serious crimes while on bail.
Electronic monitoring is also set to be used as an optional bail condition for children.
Despite the changes the Allan government has failed to quell increasing community angst amid a spate of high-profile and often fatal crimes.
The latest involved a horror crash that claimed the life of a 67-year-old Taylors Hill man Steven Kinna last month.
Accused killer driver Steven Wilson, 40, was on six counts of bail when he allegedly ploughed into Mr Kinna’s vehicle.
The worsening youth crime has dogged the government for more than 12 months with community concern sparked by a spate of fatal crimes.
At the centre of concern is a perception that young criminals routinely escape justice via a lenient judiciary.
In November a 14-year-old accused of a three-day crime spree was bailed for the 50th time, leaving victims baffled.
Police said the boy – who faced 388 charges – was tracking police air wing choppers online during a three-day rampage of home invasions.
A teen allegedly involved in the shocking attack on 15-year-old schoolboy Benjamin Phikhohpoom was subsequently bailed eight times before being involved in an attack on police.
A teen driver who allegedly killed trainee doctor William Taylor was also freed on bail again. He had gone missing within 48 hours of his first release.
The state opposition has in recent weeks increased its attack on the government’s handling of the crisis, dubbing Victoria a “lawless state”.
“Victoria has become a lawless state under the Allan Labor government with a lack of leadership that has allowed gangland violence and youth crime to spiral out of control. How many more shootings, home invasions, and violent attacks must occur before Labor takes action,” opposition police spokesman David Southwick said.
“We need more police on the beat, tougher bail and sentencing laws, and real action to crack down on crime.
“It shouldn’t be this hard to keep Victorians safe.”
Herald Sun bail law coverage
Originally published as ‘It is clear to me that we need to go even further’: Jacinta Allan makes big call on bail laws
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