What is the latest information on the Governments proposed changes to the Bail Act involving repeat offenders?
Mr JOHN WATKINS: Over recent years the Carr Government has made several major improvements to bail laws. Earlier this year we honoured an election commitment to strengthen bail laws in cases where an offender is charged with a serious offence involving personal violence and where that person has a history of violence offences. Last year we restricted bail access to certain groups of repeat offenders and those who reoffend while on bail. We want to go further. The Government’s bail changes are always underpinned by the principle that the more serious the offences—or the more prolific the offender—the more difficult it should be for the offender to secure bail. So now we will get even tougher on gun offenders and property criminals involved in offences such as burglary and car theft. Last week I advised the House of a range of prohibited weapons offences that will soon attract a presumption against bail. They include possession or use of a prohibited firearm and stealing a firearm. Our n
