[Greens-Media] O'Farrell falls at first hurdle on bail law reform

[David Shoebridge]

O'Farrell falls at first hurdle on bail law reform
Media Release - 24 October 2012
 
Despite promising to reduce the number of people on remand, the government has today introduced legislation that will send more people to jail for technical breaches of bail conduct conditions such as urine testing, breath testing and residency checks.
 
NSW Greens MP and Justice Spokesperson David Shoebridge said:
 
"The O'Farrell Government came to office promising to fix the bail laws and reduce the number of people spending months in jail awaiting trial, but this proposal takes things backwards.
 
"The government's Bill will see the continued application of unfair enforcement conditions, such as urine samples, breath testing and residence checks, when people are granted bail.  
 
"Past practice has seen even minor technical breaches of these conditions being used to terminate bail and throw people awaiting trial straight into jail.
 
"The Law Reform Commission's report on bail is now more than 6 months old and the only bail law reform we have seen from the O'Farrell government is one that toughens up bail laws.
 
"Today a staggering 53 per cent of young people in jail are on remand awaiting trial.
 
"The situation for adult prisoners is also appalling with 2,534 adults in jail awaiting trial.  
 
"With a prison population of 9,624 this means that more than a quarter of all adult prisoners are in jail without having been found guilty of the crime for which they are charged.  
 
"Despite these facts the first response from the government on bail is toughen up the laws and drive more people into jail. 
 
"While there are some checks and balances in this new Bill to limit bail conduct conditions, they do not address the root problem that these conditions will inevitable send more people to jail.
 
"Every day that genuine bail law reform is delayed costs the NSW government thousands of dollars and sees far too many people being inappropriately held in our jails.
 
"Bail's purpose is to make sure people attend court and to protect the community from potentially violent offenders while they await trial. 
 
"Bail should not become an administrative control scheme that sees people who have not been found guilty of an offence subject to continual and intrusive testing," Mr Shoebridge said.
 
Media contact: 9230 3030 | 0433 753 376
 

 
David Shoebridge
Greens MP in the NSW Legislative Council
P: (02) 9230 3030 |Media: 0433 753 376 |T: @ShoebridgeMLC ( http://twitter.com/#!/shoebridgemlc )
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