Bail laws
Michael O’BRIEN (Malvern) (14:12): My question is to the Premier. The Attorney-General in the other place boldly yet incorrectly declared, ‘We are not weakening bail laws’. Yet in 32 days time Labor is abolishing section 30B of the Bail Act. This section makes it a crime to commit an indictable offence whilst on bail. Abolishing this offence will make it easier for repeat serious offenders to keep getting bail. Why is the Premier putting Victorians at risk from repeat serious offenders by weakening Victoria’s bail laws?
Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:13): I thank the member for Malvern for his question. At the outset, the member for Malvern is referring to legislation that passed through the Parliament last year, legislation that, as he identifies, comes into effect in the near future and was supported by the Liberal Party in the other place. It was supported. Ultimately, the final bill was supported by the Liberal opposition in –
Michael O’Brien: On a point of order, Speaker, standing orders provide that answers must be factual. The fact is that the opposition opposed that measure, and that is on the record.
The SPEAKER: I do not know whether that is factual or not – I am not privy to that – but the Premier was being relevant to the question.
Jacinta ALLAN: Indeed I will repeat for the record: the final bill passed the Legislative Council and therefore the Parliament with the support of the Liberal opposition. The member for Malvern also knows that changes have not been made to the tests for serious offences. We have seen, since the passage of the bill last year, the member for Malvern and some of his colleagues take opportunistic opportunities to misrepresent both their position on this legislation and what was contained in the legislation. As I said, changes have not been made to the tests for serious offences, and I would hope that the member for Malvern would learn the lessons of the past and understand that misrepresenting what goes on in this place or misrepresenting what is happening in our community does nothing to support community safety and does nothing to support community cohesion.
Michael O’BRIEN (Malvern) (14:15): Abolishing section 30B will make it easier for repeat serious offenders to keep getting bail. Will the Premier take responsibility for the community safety consequences of weakening bail laws on 25 March?
Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:15): Again, there has not been, as I have pointed out to the member for Malvern, in legislation that was passed through the Parliament – legislation that those opposite supported – any changes to the tests for serious offences, so his reference to a weakening is a misrepresentation of the legislation that was passed through the Parliament and a misrepresentation in terms of the law that is coming into place in coming days.
Members interjecting.
The SPEAKER: The member for South-West Coast can leave the chamber for an hour.
Member for South-West Coast withdrew from chamber.