Member for Mildura, Jade Benham, has condemned Premier Jacinta Allan for refusing to take responsibility for Victoria’s weak bail laws during Question Time in Parliament this week.
Ms Benham raised two cases in Mildura, where repeat young offenders accused of violent crimes were granted bail despite strong police warnings and magistrates acknowledging the high risk of reoffending.
“In one case, a 14-year-old girl who had already been cautioned by police 14 times was granted bail after a home invasion, with the magistrate admitting police concerns that she would offend again were ‘entirely well-founded’,” Ms Benham said.
“In another case, a young boy accused of stealing a car in a home invasion and driving it at 140 kilometres an hour was also bailed, despite police warning of the real risk he may end up killing someone. The magistrate described the situation as a ‘tragedy waiting to happen’ and admitted there were no bail conditions that could adequately protect the community.”
Ms Benham pressed the Premier on how community safety was being prioritised in these cases, given the government’s repeated claims that its bail reforms ensure “community safety comes first.”
Image: https://pixabay.com/photos/prison-prison-cell-jail-crime-553836/
