The Australian Federal Police Association (AFPA) strongly supports the motion introduced by Canberra Liberals, Shadow Minister for Police, Emergency Services, and Community Safety Deborah Morris MLA in the ACT Legislative Assembly today (Wednesday, 19 March 2025).
AFPA President Alex Caruana said this motion calls for reform of the ACT’s bail laws to enhance community safety and provide more substantial support for crime victims.
“On 6 March 2025, ACT Policing arrested seven teenagers allegedly involved in multiple burglaries and car thefts. These individuals, already known to police and subject to bail or good behaviour orders, had been arrested over 190 times. One of them faced charges for over 70 offences.
“Two had breached bail conditions 11 times, and another was apprehended five times in the first two months of 2025 alone. Yet, they continue to re-offend due to judicial leniency.
“ACT Policing is highly effective in apprehending individuals who violate bail conditions and intensive correction orders. However, the revolving door of the ACT courts enables repeat offenders to persist in committing crimes within our community,” Mr Caruana said.
The AFPA supports the motion’s recognition that breaching bail is not currently an offence and calls for a “second-strike” rule. Under this proposal, individuals committing an indictable offence while on bail would face stricter consequences.
Mr Caruana said that if the Victorian Labor Government, in a human rights-friendly jurisdiction, can implement stricter bail laws, the ACT Labor Government should be able to do the same.
“Victoria Labor’s recent bail reforms prioritise community safety, and I applaud them. The ACT Labor Government must make decisions that benefit the broader community rather than those who abuse bail conditions.
“If ACT Labor and the Canberra Liberals collaborated, they could deliver fair and effective bail reform. Ms Morris’s motion strikes a reasonable and balanced approach, and dismissing it outright risks prioritising ideological posturing over sound decision-making that would enhance community safety and benefit the public.
The AFPA echoes Ms Morris’s call for the ACT Government to adopt strong new bail laws, similar to Victoria’s reforms. These would prioritise community safety in bail decisions, impose stricter conditions for repeat offenders, and introduce a “second-strike” rule for those committing serious offences while on bail.
Mr Caruana said the people of the ACT deserve a justice system that works for victims and ensures repeat offenders are held accountable.
“We call on the ACT Government to act swiftly and decisively to restore confidence in our justice system and to start treating victims better than the people who commit crimes and create fear and trepidation in our community,” Mr Caruana said.
For comments:
AFPA Media and Government Relations Manager Troy Roberts – (02) 6285 1677 – troy.r@afpa.org.au
The Australian Federal Police Association (AFPA) strongly supports the motion introduced by Canberra Liberals, Shadow Minister for Police, Emergency Services, and Community Safety Deborah Morris MLA in the ACT Legislative Assembly today (Wednesday, 19 March 2025).
AFPA President Alex Caruana said this motion calls for reform of the ACT’s bail laws to enhance community safety and provide more substantial support for crime victims.
“On 6 March 2025, ACT Policing arrested seven teenagers allegedly involved in multiple burglaries and car thefts. These individuals, already known to police and subject to bail or good behaviour orders, had been arrested over 190 times. One of them faced charges for over 70 offences.
“Two had breached bail conditions 11 times, and another was apprehended five times in the first two months of 2025 alone. Yet, they continue to re-offend due to judicial leniency.
“ACT Policing is highly effective in apprehending individuals who violate bail conditions and intensive correction orders. However, the revolving door of the ACT courts enables repeat offenders to persist in committing crimes within our community,” Mr Caruana said.
The AFPA supports the motion’s recognition that breaching bail is not currently an offence and calls for a “second-strike” rule. Under this proposal, individuals committing an indictable offence while on bail would face stricter consequences.
Mr Caruana said that if the Victorian Labor Government, in a human rights-friendly jurisdiction, can implement stricter bail laws, the ACT Labor Government should be able to do the same.
“Victoria Labor’s recent bail reforms prioritise community safety, and I applaud them. The ACT Labor Government must make decisions that benefit the broader community rather than those who abuse bail conditions.
“If ACT Labor and the Canberra Liberals collaborated, they could deliver fair and effective bail reform. Ms Morris’s motion strikes a reasonable and balanced approach, and dismissing it outright risks prioritising ideological posturing over sound decision-making that would enhance community safety and benefit the public.
The AFPA echoes Ms Morris’s call for the ACT Government to adopt strong new bail laws, similar to Victoria’s reforms. These would prioritise community safety in bail decisions, impose stricter conditions for repeat offenders, and introduce a “second-strike” rule for those committing serious offences while on bail.
Mr Caruana said the people of the ACT deserve a justice system that works for victims and ensures repeat offenders are held accountable.
“We call on the ACT Government to act swiftly and decisively to restore confidence in our justice system and to start treating victims better than the people who commit crimes and create fear and trepidation in our community,” Mr Caruana said.
For comments:
AFPA Media and Government Relations Manager Troy Roberts – (02) 6285 1677 – troy.r@afpa.org.au
