Member for Western Victoria Bev McArthur has launched an attack on local Labor MPs after the Victorian LNP’s proposed bail law reforms bill was defeated in Parliament last week.
Introduced by Shadow Attorney-General Michael O’Brien, the bill sought to reintroduce stronger bail laws and impose tougher conditions on people on bail.
Ms McArthur said local MPs Christine Couzens (Geelong), Ella George (Lara) and Alison Marchant (Bellarine) had voted against “important measures” that would restore community safety.
“This week, the Liberals and Nationals introduced a bill that would make it a criminal offence to commit another crime while on bail, and strengthen bail conditions to ensure compliance,” she said.
“Young offenders committed over 20,000 crimes last year, a 20 per cent rise.”
The bill, decried in Parliament by Labor as a political stunt and the beginning of a “race to the bottom”, received no support from Greens or Independents.
A government spokesperson pointed out that Labor introduced tougher consequences for serious, repeat offenders last year, “laws that Bev McArthur and her Liberal colleagues opposed”.
“The Premier has asked the Attorney-General and the Minister for Police to review our current laws, including bail laws,” the spokesperson said.
Australian Lawyers Alliance spokesperson Greg Barns SC said changing bail laws in Victoria again would not have any effect of reducing crime.
“Keeping more people in prison on remand will not improve community safety,” Mr Barns said.
“More people on remand also leads to more pressure in custodial settings, on police and the court system.
“This seems to be case of putting politics ahead of sensible and considered law reform.”
