Thursday, 20 March 2025

Bail laws

Brad BATTIN (Berwick – Leader of the Opposition) (14:16): My question is to the Premier. Premier, aggravated burglaries in Victoria have gone up by 27 per cent in the last 12 months, with nearly one committed every hour in Victoria. How many of these offences were committed by offenders who were out on bail under the Premier’s weakened bail laws?

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:17): In thanking the Leader of the Opposition for his question, I reiterate my thanks for the work that Victoria Police are undertaking in dealing with and supporting victims of crime and dealing with and supporting the Victorian community to keep us safe, because focusing on community safety is my priority and my government’s priority, and it is my expectation that it is the Parliament’s priority this week as well, which is why we have brought the tough new bail laws to the Parliament, and I expect those laws to be passed this week.

Bridget Vallence: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, the question was about the increase in aggravated burglaries and how many offenders were on bail. On relevance, I ask you to ask the Premier to come back to that very narrow question.

Mary-Anne Thomas: On the point of order, Speaker, the response to the question was entirely relevant. She was asked about bail and she is talking about bail. I ask that you rule the point of order out of order.

The SPEAKER: The question was very direct. I cannot tell the Premier how to answer the question, but I do remind the Premier of the question.

Jacinta ALLAN: In terms of the reference to aggravated burglary, that is exactly why that has been added as one of the new offences that will face a tougher bail test. We have the opportunity here, the Parliament has the opportunity, to move quickly today to pass these laws that are before the Legislative Council.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: I am reluctant to remove any more members, or we will not have a quorum. However, I ask the member for Pascoe Vale to apologise to the house now.

Anthony Cianflone: I apologise, Speaker.

Brad Battin: On a point of order, Speaker, in relation to relevance, the question was specific about how many people were on bail and committed these offences. This is not talking about future changes, it is talking about those who were on bail at the time.

The SPEAKER: I ask members not to repeat the question in their point of order. I remind the Premier to answer the question.

Jacinta ALLAN: The Leader of the Opposition does not want to talk about future changes, because he is doing his best to delay these future changes that we are wanting to bring into the Victorian community.

Bridget Vallence: On a point of order, Speaker, not once but twice the Premier has defied your ruling. This is about aggravated burglaries committed in the past –

The SPEAKER: Order! What is your point of order?

Bridget Vallence: not about the crystal ball of your future weak no-so-tough bail laws.

The SPEAKER: If the Manager of Opposition Business cannot state her point of order at the outset, I will not hear it. On relevance, I ask the Premier to come back to the question.

Jacinta ALLAN: My focus and my government’s focus – those of us on this side of the house are focused on community safety, which is why we have done the hard work. We have brought the bill to the Parliament. The question for the Leader of the Opposition is: why are you getting in its way?

Brad BATTIN (Berwick – Leader of the Opposition) (14:20): Can the Premier explain why the stronger measures for reoffenders, including the amendments put by the Shadow Attorney-General, were glaringly omitted from the Labor government’s new bail laws?

The SPEAKER: The legislation is in the upper house. I ask members to be very cautious.

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:21): Speaker, in taking your advice I will speak broadly on the amendments that have been referred to, because of course there have been some amendments that have been put. Do you know what the focus of those amendments is? It is all about style over substance. It is all about the title, not the outcome. It is all about the appearances, not seeing tougher new bail laws passed through the Parliament. The Leader of the Opposition has had his liquid paper pen out. That is what he has spent the last couple of days doing: rubbing out the title instead of doing the hard work.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The member for Lara is warned.

Bridget Vallence: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, the Premier is not being relevant.

The SPEAKER: There is no point of order.

Jacinta ALLAN: I was asked by the Leader of the Opposition about his own amendments in the Legislative Council. You then directed me to be very careful and speak generally around the amendments in the Legislative Council, and that is exactly what I am doing. While some have been busy putting liquid paper over the bill, more focused on the appearance than the outcome, more focused on covering up having been cruising the high seas, we have been doing the hard work, and that is what we will continue to do.