Victoria’s government has moved to tighten its bail laws further, introducing sweeping reforms aimed at curbing repeat and violent offending. The new measures come amid growing community outrage over violent incidents, including the machete attack on a resident in Altona Meadows and recent vandalism at the Shree Swaminarayan Temple in Boronia.
Premier Jacinta Allan introduced the Bail Further Amendment Bill 2025 into Parliament on Tuesday, calling it the strongest reform yet. “Victorians are rightly disgusted with repeated, violent offending. Now, our bail laws are the toughest in the country, because community safety will always come first,” she said.
The bill sets out a new test for granting bail to individuals already accused of serious offences. Anyone charged with a high-harm offence such as aggravated carjacking, armed robbery, or home invasion while already on bail for a similar offence will face an almost impossible threshold: bail will only be granted if there is a “high degree of probability” that they will not reoffend.
The government is also introducing a second strike rule targeting those accused of multiple indictable offences while on bail. Crimes such as burglary, motor vehicle theft, serious assaults, and drug offences will now trigger tougher bail tests.
The changes build on earlier reforms from March, which removed the presumption of bail for knife-related crimes and other high-risk offences. These reforms are already having an effect: the number of bail revocations and people on remand has gone up since they were introduced.
Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny said the new approach balances public safety with protections for vulnerable people. “These laws protect the community from serious repeat offenders who endanger Victorians, while ensuring vulnerable people aren’t unfairly caught up,” she said.
Minister for Police Anthony Carbines added that the reforms would back the work of frontline officers. “Our frontline police work hard day and night to keep the community safe — these tough new laws will back that work and send the strongest possible message to serious, repeat offenders.”
The decision to act comes as multiple high-profile incidents have shaken community confidence. Last week, a 33-year-old man named Saurabh was attacked with a machete outside Central Square in Altona Meadows. He sustained spinal fractures, broken bones and head injuries. A fundraiser launched by his friend Kanika has attracted support, with calls for tougher measures to prevent similar attacks.
“We can’t thank you enough for all your support,” she wrote, urging the community to stand by Saurabh during his recovery.
The bill also includes safeguards to prevent remanding people for lower-harm offences unnecessarily. For example, minor drug possession will not trigger the new bail rules. But authorities are preparing for more people to be placed on remand.
Nearly 1,000 new adult prison beds will be added across the system, with 88 additional beds planned for Cherry Creek and Parkville youth justice centres.
Premier Allan had earlier described the temple vandalism in Boronia and attacks on local restaurants as “shameful and cruel,” reinforcing her stance that “no community should ever have to endure hateful acts like this.”
The string of events, including a machete attack, temple defacement, and rising youth violence, appears to have hardened the government’s approach. The bail reforms mark a clear signal that repeat offenders will face longer periods in custody and fewer chances to reoffend while awaiting trial.
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