Victoria Enacts Nation’s Toughest Bail Laws Following Crime Surge
The new laws prioritize community safety, introduce stricter bail tests, and revive controversial provisions despite backlash from legal and advocacy groups.
- Victoria's parliament has passed sweeping bail law reforms following a marathon session, with immediate implementation for most provisions.
- The legislation replaces the principle of remand as a 'last resort' with community safety as the overriding priority for bail decisions.
- Tougher bail tests for serious offences such as aggravated burglary and knife crime are included, though some measures face delays due to resource constraints.
- Legal and human rights groups warn the changes will disproportionately harm marginalized communities, particularly Aboriginal populations, and reverse earlier reforms linked to Veronica Nelson's death in custody.
- The laws respond to a 13.2% rise in Victoria's crime rate, with youth offences at their highest levels since 1993, and have been supported by Victoria Police but criticized by opposition parties as insufficient.
The Guardian 
The Sydney Morning Herald 
Australian Broadcasting Corporation 