Despite defending her government’s bail laws as recently as last week, Premier Jacinta Allan has since backflipped, saying they were not adequate, and a review would be undertaken – only to have the Police Minister say there would be no review.

Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, said it made a mockery of the Premier’s announcement and showed the Labor Government was in crisis.

“Premier Allan has repeatedly defended her government’s bail laws and then this week - after polling for the by-elections came out (I suspect), they are all of a sudden inadequate and a review will take place,” Me Bull said.

“However, at a media conference the Police Minster, Anthony Carbines, who is meant to be undertaking this review, said there was no major ‘piece of work’ in the pipeline.

“He then went on to reveal, ‘I wouldn’t even say that there’s particularly a review’ and added ‘I’ve got plenty of stuff in the bottom drawer that I can pull out’.”

Mr Bull said it left Victorians wondering if there was to be a review at all and, if the Police Minister has the solutions he can just ‘pull out’ – why hasn’t it been done?

“The fact we have youths being bailed over 50 times is a disgrace. There is just no accountability for actions under the government.

“The Premier claims we opposed strengthening bail laws. That is not correct. The government did not allow the Liberals and Nationals to introduce a Bill last year to toughen bail laws,” he said.

Wednesday, 5 February 2025