Arabic version: توقّع إقرار قوانين خرق الكفالة في كوينزلاند الأسبوع المقبل

According to ABC News, Queensland’s controversial breach bail laws are expected to pass state parliament next week. Premier David Crisafulli said repeat offenders, including children, who commit a serious offence while on bail would face a minimum one-year jail sentence under the changes.

The proposed legislation would create a standalone offence for breaching bail, carrying a maximum penalty of three years in jail. It would also introduce a test requiring courts or police to deny bail unless satisfied “to a high degree of confidence” that a person will not reoffend. The new offence and threshold would apply to youths who commit, or are charged with, an Adult Crime, Adult Time offence, with additional offences included for adults.

Speaking at the Queensland Press Club, Mr Crisafulli acknowledged the measures would “put pressure” on the system. He said he would choose “the safety of Queenslanders” and argued that, after initial pressure on courts, the policy could curb behaviour and reduce that pressure over time.

Advocates have warned the laws could expose more children to inhumane conditions, add pressure to jails and courts, worsen reoffending rates and target First Nations people. The government has accepted that the Human Rights Act would need to be overridden to implement the legislation.

Opposition Leader Steven Miles said Labor would support the laws because people who offend while on bail should face harsher consequences. However, he said the government needed to prepare for effects on prisons, youth detention centres and watch houses, raising concerns about overcrowding and assaults on police and youth detention workers.