Joint Statement - Tougher bail and sentencing laws to keep Victorians safe

Joint Statement – Tougher bail and sentencing laws to keep Victorians safe

Jess Wilson, Leader of the Opposition

James Newbury, Shadow Attorney-General

Wednesday 15 April 2026 

Community safety will be restored and confidence in the justice system enhanced under a tough new bail and sentencing policy announced today by Jess Wilson’s Liberal and Nationals team.

Under Labor, criminal offending is at an all-time high as Labor’s revolving-door bail system allows offenders back on the street time and again.

As part of the Liberals and Nationals’ Safer Communities Plan, a future Jess Wilson-led Government will:

• Implement genuine Adult Crime, Adult Time laws by expanding the number of serious offences uplifted to the County Court by adding a further twelve offences, including burglary, serious assault and attempted murder.
• Transfer bail applications for the expanded list of serious offences to the County Court, aligning bail decisions with the court in which these matters are ultimately sentenced.
• Introduce a strict one-strike bail rule for these uplifted serious offences, meaning offenders on bail who re-offend will be automatically denied bail.
• Strengthen the offence of breach of bail by upgrading it to a more serious classification (from a summary offence to a Schedule 2 offence).
• Extend breach of bail laws to youth offenders by removing the existing youth exemption, so that youth offenders who breach bail conditions are also subject to the same penalties.

These bail and sentencing reforms are part of the Liberals and Nationals’ Safer Communities Plan, which includes hiring 3,000 more police, 200 new PSOs, reopening more than 40 police stations and returning PSOs to 120 train stations, as well as investing in crime prevention and rehabilitation initiatives.

Leader of the Opposition, Jess Wilson, said: “Only my Liberal and Nationals team has a plan to end Labor’s crime crisis and keep Victorians safe.

“Labor’s weak laws and revolving-door bail system are putting dangerous offenders back on the street and continuing the cycle of crime. The system must change.

“Our stronger bail and sentencing laws will mean serious consequences for serious crime and back the work Victoria Police is doing to hold offenders to account.”

Shadow Attorney-General, James Newbury, said: “Under a Liberal and Nationals Government serious offenders who break bail will be sent to jail.

“Labor’s recent reforms are nothing more than a weak, watered down version of what has been successfully implemented in Queensland.

“Victorians have had enough of living in fear in their own homes and communities. Only a Wilson Liberal and Nationals Government will deliver the tough laws needed to keep Victorians safe.”