❓ Opposition MP Mettam questions the Attorney General on the delay in amending the Bail Act following a tragic death. The Attorney General assures the reforms are prioritised and near completion.
AnsweredQoN 164Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
BAIL ACT — AMENDMENTS
164. Ms L. METTAM to the Attorney General:
I refer to the McGowan government's
promise to reform the Bail Act 1982 following the tragic death of an 11-year-old
by suicide in 2020.
(1) Given the
Attorney General received a draft of the amendments back in September 2021,
what is stopping him from introducing these important reforms?
(2) Why has it not been prioritised
by this government?
164. Ms L. METTAM to the Attorney General:
I refer to the McGowan government's
promise to reform the Bail Act 1982 following the tragic death of an 11-year-old
by suicide in 2020.
(1) Given the
Attorney General received a draft of the amendments back in September 2021,
what is stopping him from introducing these important reforms?
(2) Why has it not been prioritised
by this government?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) The
tragic death of Annaliesse shocked us all. It was said that one of the factors
was the release on bail of the person charged with her assault. We have in
drafting before parliamentary counsel a bill that will significantly alter the considerations and criteria that the court will
have to consider when considering bail for
a person charged with a child sex offence. There will have to be some
extraordinary circumstances for bail to go ahead. The circumstances of
the victim will be paramount. These matters have been prioritised by the
government. We have a very large legislative agenda. Parliamentary counsel is
completing this now. It will soon be presented to the Parliament. We are
serious about this. There are other amendments to the Bail Act that we want to look
at as well, but they will be separate from the amendments that will deal with
the considerations for bail when a person is charged with a child sexual
offence.
tragic death of Annaliesse shocked us all. It was said that one of the factors
was the release on bail of the person charged with her assault. We have in
drafting before parliamentary counsel a bill that will significantly alter the considerations and criteria that the court will
have to consider when considering bail for
a person charged with a child sex offence. There will have to be some
extraordinary circumstances for bail to go ahead. The circumstances of
the victim will be paramount. These matters have been prioritised by the
government. We have a very large legislative agenda. Parliamentary counsel is
completing this now. It will soon be presented to the Parliament. We are
serious about this. There are other amendments to the Bail Act that we want to look
at as well, but they will be separate from the amendments that will deal with
the considerations for bail when a person is charged with a child sexual
offence.
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