Bail Law Changes Proposed For Queensland

Premier David Crisafulli visited Mackay last Thursday to outline proposed bail law changes, including a new offence carrying a mandatory 12-month jail term for breaching bail. Photo credit: Hannah McNamara  

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On Mackay grounds last Thursday 1^st October, Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said the State Government was focus remained on reducing the number of victims of crime, with new bail legislation before Parliament set to introduce what he described as the “strongest bail laws in Australia.”

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Mr Crisafulli said the proposed standalone bail breach offence would apply to adults and youth offenders who committed certain offences while on bail, with a minimum mandatory 12-month prison term for those convicted of the new offence.

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“It will be the most significant change to bail laws in the history of Queensland, and it will create the strongest bail laws in the country,” he said.

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Mr Crisafulli said the proposed offence would apply to youth offenders who committed an adult crime, adult time offence while on bail, as well as adults who committed comparable offences.

“In essence, a new standalone offence. If you breach bail, you will have a minimum mandatory period of 12 months in jail,” Mr Crisafulli said.

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“It sends the clearest and strongest possible message that there are consequences for actions.”

“It removes people who shouldn't be in the community from the community and makes sure that they are off the streets.”

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Mr Crisafulli said victim numbers in Queensland had increased by 193 per cent over the previous 10 years, while preliminary figures following the introduction of the Government’s adult crime, adult time policy showed victim numbers had fallen by 9.6 per cent.

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“Yes, it's heading in the right direction, but there is a long, long way to go,” he said.

“We are going to keep going. It will be strong bail by Christmas, and if you breach bail, you will go to jail. No ifs, no buts, a minimum mandatory period of 12 months.”

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Member for Mackay Nigel Dalton said the proposed changes would provide clear consequences for people who breached bail.

“There are people here who are wanting changes, and the Premier has outlined exactly what we'll be doing before Christmas,” Mr Dalton said.

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“If you breach bail, and you have that privilege of getting to court and you can get out until that sentencing date, but you breach that, you will go to jail for 12 months.”

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“That's quite straightforward, and that's what people want to see. They want to see consequences for action.”

Mr Dalton said regional Queensland MPs had been driving the proposed changes.

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“The North Queensland MPs have driven this, right from Cairns, right down to Rocky. We are driving this change.”

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Glenella resident Sam Dawes, who said she was a victim of crime, shared her experience with the restorative justice process following an attempted break-in at her property around 2024.

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Ms Dawes said it took about a year after reporting the incident to police before she received a letter advising the offender had been found and issued with a restorative justice order.

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“I just think that's not good enough.”

Ms Dawes said she had been willing to follow the process but did not see an outcome.

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“It just wastes the taxpayers' money, and I was a willing participant ready to go follow the process of what they wanted done and nothing came from it.”

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“I'm hopeful that these new laws will make a difference.”

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