Victorian government announces long-awaited bail reforms

Liberty Victoria said “it’s rare for governments to admit they got the balance wrong, so credit to the Vic AG”.

“We’ll wait to see the details of the proposed reforms. Our position is that a single unacceptable risk test is the best and fairest threshold for bail,” the group said in a statement.

“If an alleged offender, entitled to the presumption of innocence, is not an unacceptable risk of committing a serious offence, failing to appear at court, or interfering with witnesses, then there is no proper basis to hold them in custody pending hearing or trial.”