Bail and parole reform are essential to restoring community confidence in Western Australia’s justice system and ensuring victims’ rights are prioritised over the freedoms of violent offenders.

Under the Cook Labor Government, dangerous repeat offenders have been granted bail and parole, only to reoffend and cause further harm.

The tragic case of Danny Hodgson highlights the devastating consequences of a weak bail system.

His attacker, a teenage offender already facing 23 charges, was granted bail and went on to commit a brutal and unprovoked assault that left Danny with lifelong injuries.

Even after being sentenced, this violent offender was inexplicably released on parole and later reoffended again while also on bail for other offences.

This outcome was unacceptable and not in line with community expectations.

Both bail and parole are agreements with the justice system that you will comply with monitoring and safety conditions and follow the letter of the law, yet many across our justice system are allowed the right to continually disrespect it.

Western Australia’s bail and parole laws need to send a strong message that repeat violent crime will not be tolerated and that community safety takes precedence over the liberties of those who continuously break the law.

The WA Liberals know our justice system should provide robust consequences for crime, with protections that prioritise victim’s rights.

Too often, offenders who have already demonstrated a disregard for the law are given multiple opportunities to reoffend, putting the community at risk.

Western Australians need more confidence that serious offenders will not be easily released back into the community and are instead accountable for their actions.

Only a WA Liberal Government will prioritise it.

The WA Liberals believe in creating a state where people can feel safe on our streets and in their own homes.

Our state needs stricter bail and parole laws to ensure that repeat violent offenders are held accountable and do not pose a threat to the public.

A WA Liberal Government will introduce legislation to enforce stricter parole, bail and post-sentence supervision conditions, ensuring that community safety remains the top priority.

Under these changes, those who repeatedly harm others will face the full consequences of their actions rather than being granted bail or parole again and again at the expense of victims and the broader public.

This means that any violent repeat offender who commits further

crimes while out on bail will not be granted bail again and that breaching bail conditions will come with immediate revocation of bail.

While judges will still oversee bail decisions, the proposed laws will significantly limit discretion for repeat violent offenders.

The proposed reforms will eliminate early release for violent criminals, ensuring that offenders serve their full sentences without the possibility of parole.

While these reforms primarily target repeat violent offenders, first-time offenders may still be eligible for bail, but strict conditions and electronic monitoring may apply depending on the severity of the offence.

This will ensure that bail is a privilege, not a loophole for repeat offenders.

Western Australians deserve a government that will take decisive action to restore law and order, ensuring that victims and law-abiding citizens are protected from those who seek to harm them.

Only the WA Liberal Party is committed to restoring confidence in Western Australia’s justice system and upholding law and order.