Bail laws flip reveals key feature of Allan’s reign
An eleventh-hour change of Labor’s major bail reform package signals a massive shift away from Daniel Andrews’ iron-fisted grip on power.
Victoria
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Is the state government changing the way it does business?
An eleventh-hour change of its major bail reform package signals a new willingness to negotiate under the leadership of Jacinta Allan.
It’s hard to imagine the government budging on its position if Daniel Andrews were still in charge.
Under Andrews’ rule there were only two paths with which to do business: his way, or the highway.
Under Allan it appears there may be another way.
Criticism of the bail amendments – both that they went too far and that they didn’t go far enough – have for weeks been dismissed by the government.
The Premier, Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes and the former Premier insisted the changes were “sensible, proportionate and necessary”.
But the shelving of key parts of the reforms shows a more collaborative approach Allan has promised to bring to government.
It would empower ministers to exercise more authority over their own portfolios and decentralise power from the Premier’s office.
Since Labor came to office in 2014 negotiation has been a luxury of last resort.
Take the government’s stubborn refusal to back away from controversial pandemic laws.
They were criticised by lawyers, health experts and human rights activists but negotiation came only when the government faced certain defeat in parliament.
Similarly, there was no negotiation on laws to keep serial killer Paul Denyer locked behind bars for life either.
Nevermind the government MPs who were very uncomfortable with the Premier’s refusal to add Denyer to a small group of just two for which specific laws apply to keep them incarcerated for life.
A cynic might say shelving youth bail laws now is politically convenient: amid a spate of recent attacks youth crime is a hot topic.
The government plans to reintroduce the laws in a separate bill next year.
In the meantime they have bought time to negotiate and collaborate.
And for some inside the government, they’ll need a little time to get used to it.
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