Community safety
Brad BATTIN (Berwick – Leader of the Opposition) (14:13): My question is to the Premier. In March this year the Attorney-General said Labor’s new bail laws would squarely target the risks that come with young people committing serious and dangerous crimes while out on bail. Yet last week a 13-year-old, already bailed three times, attempted to carjack a family’s car in Ashburton while their toddler was in the back seat. Will the Premier be honest with the Victorian people and admit that her government’s bail laws are a failure?
Members interjecting.
The SPEAKER: The member for Bulleen is warned.
Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:14): Again, acknowledging the Leader of the Opposition’s question, it is from listening to victims of crime like the one he referred to that saw the government act and bring back in March to this place bail laws into the Parliament. It was the very first change that was made in that legislation, and I do note that it was not supported by those opposite. It was making that change that community safety come first in all bail-making decisions. What we have seen since that fundamental change, but also the other elements of those two bail reform bills that have toughened bail, particularly for serious repeat offending, is more people on remand. More people are being put in jail and are not being given bail as a result of the changes we have made following listening to victims of crime.
Brad BATTIN (Berwick – Leader of the Opposition) (14:15): The government’s so-called toughest bail laws are clearly failing. Why should Victorians have any faith in the Attorney-General’s promises on community safety when repeat violent offenders keep getting back on the streets?
Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:15): It is disappointing that the Leader of the Opposition continues to peddle this reckless misinformation. What we have seen as a result of the bail reforms that we have put through this house, the tougher bail laws to deal with this repeat offending, is that the number of people on remand has gone up by 26 per cent.
Brad Battin: On a point of order, Speaker, the Premier must be accurate and factual when she is putting forward her points. If you are coming in with a 26 per cent increase in people on remand, it should be added to an 18 per cent increase in crime and 20-plus per cent increase in aggravated burglaries here in Victoria, which the victims are paying for every single day.
The SPEAKER: There is no point of order.
Jacinta ALLAN: It is reckless behaviour, this ongoing behaviour. It is a pattern of behaviour that we are seeing from the Leader of the Opposition, because it is not convenient for him to hear that the tough new bail laws that have been passed through this Parliament are making a difference.
Bridget Vallence: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, what is reckless is that these offenders keep getting put out on bail. I would ask you to ask the Premier to answer the question, on relevance.
The SPEAKER: There is no point of order.
Jacinta ALLAN: While the Leader of the Opposition will continue this pattern of reckless behaviour, like we have seen in pretty graphic detail –
Brad Battin interjected.
Jacinta ALLAN: I think standing next to a dead body for a press conference is pretty reckless. We will continue to listen to victims of crime and act.