‘However long it takes’: Victoria to debate tighter bail laws

One state’s top lawyer says MPs will debate “for however long it takes” to get new, tougher bail laws through.

Victorian politicians will debate tighter bail laws on Tuesday, reforms that would put more young people in custody.

The Attorney-General says her opposition colleagues “won’t be going home” until the Tough Bail Bill has passed into law. The Bill will be introduced to parliament later on Tuesday.

The changes would make bail less likely for firearm, arson, knife, carjacking and non-aggravated home invasion offences. The law would also make a specific new crime for committing an indictable offence while on bail.

In February, the Victorian government agreed to a new deal with police that guarantees an 18 per cent pay rise for staff, over four years, and frontline officers will get a 20 per cent bump. Picture: NewsWire / Nadir Kinani

The government has specifically zeroed in on male teenagers and young adults with proposed changes that would remand more boys and young men in custody before they are convicted.

On Tuesday morning, Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny foreshadowed this week’s deliberations could be lengthy, issuing a warning to Opposition Leader Brad Battin.

“Mr Battin and his colleagues won’t be going home from parliament this week until Labor’s Tough Bail Bill is passed. We’ll stay here for however long it takes,” she said in a statement.

On his way into parliament on Tuesday morning, Mr Battin echoed the sentiments of the youth social services and legal fraternities, saying the proposed laws were rushed.

“We want to work to have tougher bail laws in this state,” he told media.

Opposition Leader Brad Battin says the Liberals support the bill in principle. Picture: NewsWire / Diego Fedele

“We want to say to the government, whilst they’ve been so desperate to get this announcement out, it’s disappointing they couldn’t have prepared some legislation before they put out a media release. This legislation came to the Victorian Liberal Party last night, at 6pm.

“If the amendments in there are not anything contrary to what the government has been saying, and they’re tougher laws, we’ll work with the government to get through as soon as possible.

In a joint statement, the Victorian Bar and the Criminal Bar Association of Victoria say holding youths in custody decreases the chances of rehabilitation.

“These laws are targeted squarely at the risks of young people committing serious crimes while out on bail,” Ms Kilkenny said.

A tightening of bail laws will put pressure on already stretched remand facilities. Three of the state’s four remand jails are near capacity, including the Metropolitan Remand Centre, which has acute staff shortages.

Tuesday’s parliamentary sitting begins at midday.

Separate to the bail laws, the state government has enacted a machete ban, which comes into effect on September 1 and brings the prospect of prison sentences or fines of more than $47,000.

More to come