Legal, human rights, and First Nations organizations have condemned the Victorian government’s proposed overhaul of bail laws, which would require courts to treat children accused of serious crimes as adults when making decisions about remand or community release. The changes, announced by Premier Jacinta Allan, are intended to address concerns about repeat offending but have drawn criticism from various quarters.

The overhaul includes measures to prioritize community safety over the principle of remand as a “last resort,” and imposes a new bail test on repeat offenders of serious crimes, requiring them to prove a “high degree of probability” they will not reoffend. These changes come in response to pressure from opposition parties and media campaigns highlighting what has been termed a “youth crime crisis.”

Legal and human rights groups argue that the changes will harm vulnerable individuals, particularly those facing poverty, homelessness, and trauma. Aboriginal Legal Services and Indigenous leaders have expressed severe concerns about the impact on Aboriginal communities, calling it a contradiction to the federal government’s Closing the Gap targets aimed at reducing incarceration rates among Indigenous youth.

Opposition to the changes is widespread, with critics including the Greens and independent MPs voicing their opposition. While the government justifies these measures as a response to community fear and a means to curb repeat offenses, the proposed legislation remains contentious, with calls for thorough consultation before implementation.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/mar/12/victoria-labor-bail-laws-overhaul