Page 2189 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 9 May 2012

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MR COE (Ginninderra) (11.00): The opposition will be supporting the amendments, as we believe they will enhance the bill and will ensure it is implemented and operates in a better fashion. However, my comments earlier still stand. I believe the “significant body of work” the minister refers to is so significant that, in fact, it should be before this place for our discussion rather than leaving the sorting out to regulations and the department. However, as I mentioned, the opposition will be supporting the Greens amendments as they improve the legislation.

Amendments agreed to.

Bill, as a whole, as amended, agreed to.

Bill, as amended, agreed to.

Bail provisions

MRS DUNNE (Ginninderra) (11.02): I move:

That this Assembly:

(1) notes that:

(a) bail is an important element of the criminal justice system;

(b) generally accused people are entitled to be released on bail unless there is an unacceptable risk to the safety of the community; and

(2) calls on the Attorney-General to advise the Assembly by 5 June 2012 on:

(a) the number of people, in the last two financial years:

(i) remanded in custody who were subsequently acquitted;

(ii) granted bail who failed to comply with their bail conditions; and

(iii) granted bail who committed further offences while on bail; and

(b) how the Government proposes to protect the public from the instances of non-compliance and further offending while on bail.

There is a problem with the ACT bail system. In the ACT we see regular instances of noncompliance with bail orders and reoffending while on bail and, in many cases, very sadly, little action is taken in response to this noncompliance or reoffending. This leaves police, prosecutors and the general public scratching their collective head. The legal system is not protecting the community from often dangerous offenders who reoffend while in the community.

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