Tuesday, 9 September 2025

Community safety

Brad BATTIN (Berwick – Leader of the Opposition) (14:26): My question is to the Attorney-General. Recently a 56-year-old woman was carjacked at knifepoint in a school car park in Lara. She was pushed out of her car and left traumatised. Police later arrested two people in Corio in connection with the stolen vehicle, only to find firearms, drugs and stolen goods. One alleged offender was bailed, while the other was already on bail at the time. Attorney, why can’t the people of Geelong and Lara feel safe when violent repeat offenders armed with guns are continuously released back into our community?

Sonya KILKENNY (Carrum – Attorney-General, Minister for Planning) (14:27): At the outset, I must reject the premise of that question. In doing so, I want to first acknowledge the victim that the Leader of the Opposition has identified, because I think what is most important in any of these conversations, when we talk about community safety, is recognising victims in these conversations and recognising the families of victims in all of these conversations and in all of the actions that we take. I want to acknowledge that today feels like a heavy day. It is a heavy day because we have just had a very respectful condolence motion for two very strong, proud police officers who were doing their job who did not come home to their families. We also recognise the families of two young boys, victims of senseless killing, who were going about their business, coming home from a basketball game. I do want to remind –

Brad Battin: On a point of order, Speaker, in relation to relevance, we were talking about a victim who is a 56-year-old down in the Lara area, and the question was specifically about this and the fact that people cannot feel safe when they see people get bail continuously here in Victoria. Can you please ask the minister to come back to answering that question?

The SPEAKER: The Attorney answered the question at the outset by rejecting the premise of the question.

Sonya KILKENNY: I remind the Leader of the Opposition that in conversations, in discussions, in questions about community safety it is about putting the victim first. It is about recognising the impact on victims and the impacts on our community, which is why this year we have now passed two new bail bills, making our bail tests, our bail laws, the strongest in the nation. We do that by putting community safety –

Brad Battin: On a point of order, Speaker, the minister on her feet has to be factual. The reality is that the legislation they have introduced is not even as strong as the bail laws they weakened back in 2023 and 2024. This is why people continue to get bail here in Victoria –

The SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat. There is an assumption in this house that all members on their feet will be factual.

Sonya KILKENNY: As I was saying, the bail amendments that we have put through both houses of Parliament, which have both now passed, will see community safety put front and centre in all bail decisions.

Brad Battin interjected.

Sonya KILKENNY: The Leader of the Opposition asks when.

The SPEAKER: Order! I ask the Attorney not to respond to interjections. Through the Chair.

Sonya KILKENNY: We are already seeing remand numbers up. We are already seeing the impacts of these new bail laws – these tougher bail laws having an impact. We are seeing increases of 26 per cent in the numbers of adult prisoners on remand compared to this time last year and 27 per cent more young offenders on remand compared to this time last year. But what is so important is that we are responding to community concerns. We are making it harder for alleged offenders to get bail, particularly for firearm offences, for arson, for aggravated burglary, for carjacking and for home invasion. We are making tougher bail laws to protect communities.

Brad BATTIN (Berwick – Leader of the Opposition) (14:31): Attorney, how many more women need to be threatened, assaulted or carjacked in broad daylight before your government finally acts to fix Victoria’s broken bail laws and puts community safety first?

Sonya KILKENNY (Carrum – Attorney-General, Minister for Planning) (14:31): I am not sure where the Leader of the Opposition has been all year, but I will remind the Leader of the Opposition ‍–

Brad Battin: On a point of order, Speaker, in relation to relevance, all this year I have been listening to the victims that are piling up here in our state as the crime increases and people continuously get bail under this government’s watch.

The SPEAKER: There is no point of order.

Brad Battin interjected.

The SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, you will have to leave the chamber for an hour. I will not tolerate this kind of disrespect to the Chair.

Brad Battin interjected.

The SPEAKER: Order! Make that an hour and a half.

Brad Battin interjected.

Questions interrupted.