Latest news with #AllanGovernment
ABC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Victoria Police asked for tougher bail laws for arsonists, FOI documents show
The Victorian government has mostly sat on advice from police to make it tougher for accused arsonists to be released on bail amid Melbourne's ongoing tobacco wars, according to secret briefing notes. Documents obtained by the ABC through Freedom of Information laws reveal that earlier this year, the Allan government was asked to tighten bail rules to help Victoria Police directly target players allegedly responsible for scores of firebombings. But in the four months since the government received the advice, it ignored the majority of the police requests and removed the presumption of bail for only one arson-related offence, which requires a person's life to be endangered. That change is unlikely to have an impact on the majority of tobacco-related firebombings, which typically occur in the dead of night at empty shops. It comes as newly released figures from police revealed there have been eight tobacco-related arsons since the government's bail changes came into effect in March, including the firebombing of a victim's home that was so serious they were put into witness protection. Since then, police have arrested 23 people and charged six offenders with arson but four were granted bail — two by the courts and the other two by police. In a briefing note from February, Victoria Police urged the police minister to reclassify five serious arson-related offences in the Bail Act which would remove the presumption of bail. Those offences were: The changes would have forced alleged firebombers charged with serious arson offences to show a "compelling reason" for why they should be granted bail, whereas at the moment the courts presume they are entitled to bail. But despite agreeing to advocate for the changes months ago, the government removed the presumption of bail solely for criminal damage by fire with the intent to endanger life. A Victorian government spokeswoman defended the decision and said it was acting to "smoke out organised crime and crack down on the illicit tobacco trade". "We have listened to police and have already changed the Bail Act by elevating serious arson offences to Schedule 2, meaning anyone charged will be subject to a tougher bail test under our new laws," the government spokeswoman said. A Victoria Police spokeswoman said the force regularly gave advice to the government. "It is ultimately a matter for government on whether they take that advice and any queries relating to legislation should be directed to them," she said. Middle Eastern crime gangs have been behind 140 firebombings since the tobacco wars began in March 2023 as warring factions tried to seize control of Melbourne's illicit tobacco and vape market. In February this year one of the city's most notorious underworld figures, Sam Abdulrahim, was gunned down in an apartment block car park after a contract was put out on his life. Victoria Police has previously said it believed Kazem Hamad, a sworn enemy of Abdulrahim, is a key player in the tobacco wars who has orchestrated firebombings on his rivals or shop owners who refuse to pay exorbitant extortion fees. Hamad was deported to Iraq after serving eight years behind bars for drug trafficking. The tit-for-tat firebombings have dominated headlines, sucked up police resources and put pressure on the Victorian government to try and stem the tide of violent attacks. It prompted Victoria Police to make the bail recommendations which the force said constituted a "legislative gap". There is currently just one fire-related crime considered serious enough not to warrant the presumption of bail — arson causing death. "This results in offenders of other serious arson offences … not being required to show a compelling reason for why they should be granted bail," Victoria Police said in the secret briefing documents. "Victoria Police advises … it has also witnessed a continuing cycle of re-offending due to the time taken for matters to be brought before the courts and the high likelihood for suspects to receive bail following arson charges," the force said. According to police, there have been at least three occasions where alleged offenders have received bail after firebombing tobacco shops, among them a mid-level organised crime figure. In the documents released to the ABC police allege the man, who is accused of extortion, arson and blackmail, was bailed "despite evidence provided to the court which negated a defence to the charges and despite false assurances". The force said the changes would have a "preventative and deterrent" effect. "Victoria Police proposes these five additional offences be included … as a practical solution to the current issue of serious arson offenders receiving a presumption of bail regardless of their risk to the community," the force said. The force's concerns were noted and agreed to by Police Minister Anthony Carbines but were missing when the Victorian government overhauled the Bail Act after facing mounting pressure to address rising crime rates. The government's changes reclassified home invasions and carjackings as more serious offences and included tougher bail tests for serious child and adult offenders who commit a crime while already on bail for other offences.
Daily Mail
20-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Notorious crime boss Tony Mokbel is awarded $1million over brutal prison attack - but there's a catch
Melbourne gangland boss Tony Mokbel has been awarded $1million from the Victorian government after he was brutally attacked by two other inmates. Two inmates knocked Mokbel unconscious and stabbed him with a 'shiv' during the attack at Bowral Prison in 2019. Mokbel, then 53, had to be rushed from the maximum security prison in Lara to Melbourne Hospital to be treated for a traumatic brain injury, a brain haemorrhage and stab wounds. He also lost several teeth in the attack. The gangster sued the state over the attack, leading to the massive payout from the Allan government on Friday. But most of the money will not go to Mokbel himself. About $750,000 has gone towards medical and legal costs while the remaining $250,000 has been paid into the Prisoner Compensation Quarantine Fund. While the money is held in quarantine for 12 months, creditors and victims of Mokbel will have the opportunity to make a claim on it, the Herald Sun reports. Mokbel famously fled Australia on a yacht in 2006 while he was on trial over a cocaine importation, only to be arrested a year later in Greece. The former drug cartel head was sentenced to 30 years in prison in 2012. In April, the 59-year old was released on bail after almost two decades in jail. He was pictured beaming as he walked down the steps of the Victorian Supreme Court of Appeal to be reunited with his friends and family. Mokbel said nothing as he walked through a police cordon shielding him from a horde of journalists and other onlookers. The jailbird gangster's release attracted the largest media scrum outside a Melbourne court since George Pell appeared at court for a preliminary hearing in 2017. Daily Mail Australia revealed Mokbel's first act after being released was to visit the grave of his mother, who died in 2013. His appeal against three convictions for drug trafficking will be heard later this year.
West Australian
08-06-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
‘Weekly basis': Lawyer reveals why young people are still carrying knives, despite harsher laws
Harsher penalties will do little to curb the spike in youth knife crime unless the underlying reasons why they are being carried are addressed, a leading criminal lawyer has declared. Astor Legal principal lawyer Avinash Singh said he deals with people charged with knife offences on a weekly basis, with many also involved in the illegal drug trade. 'We have represented a number of minors accused of carrying knives – generally from lower socio-economic areas carrying knives for self-defence,' Mr Singh told NewsWire. 'Unfortunately, a lot of these young people have been assaulted and/or threatened themselves. 'They feel that reporting the matter to police after the fact will do them little good, particularly if they are seriously injured or even killed,' he said. 'As such, they often feel that they have to carry a knife to protect themselves.' The hard truth then, is that harsher crimes may not reduce offending, or make the community any safer, Mr Singh said. 'While it is understandable that governments and the community demand tougher laws to combat knife crime, this is unlikely to do much to reduce it in my opinion,' he said. 'People who carry knives are unlikely to stop just because of increased penalties. 'Research has found that they stop when they are no longer exposed to an environment where carrying a knife is seen as a necessity,' he said. 'This means addressing these communities by providing resources, programs and funding to prevent the issue – something governments have continuously failed to do.' The Victorian Allan Government announced in May it will be introducing laws to ban the sale and possession of machetes following an alleged spate of machete assaults. From September 1, those carrying a 'controlled weapon' or knife in Victoria will face up to two years imprisonment or a fine of $30,700. 'In Victoria, community safety comes first. We must never let places we meet become places we fear,' Premier Jacinta Allan said. 'I hate these knives, and I will keep introducing as many laws as it takes to get them off our streets, out of our shops and out of our lives.' Those found guilty in NSW face four years imprisonment fines up to $4,400. Mr Singh said he feared 'the expanded search powers will disproportionately be used against young people from lower socio-economic areas'. 'This leads to distrust of police and can in fact have the opposite effect – that is, young people keep knives but simply avoid police and are less likely to report crimes'. He said this is already seen in the rising amount of NSW youth caught up in the criminal system following legislation changes and bail reform. 'The strictest knife crime laws at present are in NSW. While the laws have only recently been introduced, there has been a noticeable increase in the courts seeing knife offences,' Mr Singh said. 'This, along with recent Bail Act reforms in NSW, has led to a marked increase in children being refused bail and held in custody, which does nothing to address their behaviour or promote rehabilitation of offenders.'
Daily Mail
07-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Huge $400 payout for Aussies - what you need to know
The Victorian state government has offered a new $400 discount for Australian-made efficient electric hot water systems. In a move to help boost local manufacturers, the Allan Government announced the $400 cashback scheme, which will be available from July 1. The $400 payout would be on top of the pre-existing rebate, worth up to $1,000, for households which upgrade or replace old hot water systems with solar systems. The government claimed the initiative would help shield Australian manufacturers from cheap imports and help Victorians by lowering their power bills.
News.com.au
04-06-2025
- Health
- News.com.au
Principals given power to suspend, expel students outside school grounds
The Allan government has announced sweeping new powers for school principals across Victoria, allowing them to take further action for student behaviour outside school grounds and online. From the first day of term 3 this year, principals across Victorian schools will have expanded powers to suspend or expel students for behaviour outside the school gates and behind a screen. The change in powers is in line with NSW and South Australia, which have implemented such capacities for principals to suspend, exclude or expel students for behaviour that could affect student and staff safety. It is also in response to an increase in online abuse and harassment among students, particularly online, including deepfakes and AI-generated images. In February, police launched an investigation after a 'number of sexually explicit, digitally generated images of teenage girls who attend Gladstone Park Secondary College were circulated online'. Education Minister Ben Carroll said the change would 'send a clear message that harmful behaviour outside of school or online has consequences'. 'In Victoria, community safety comes first,' he said. 'The safety of students, teachers and school staff is our top priority – we're investing in programs that foster more respectful schools and acting to protect school communities. 'This builds on our nation-leading ban on mobile phones in schools and our support of a social media ban for kids – keeping kids safe in the classroom and online.' As part of the sweeping new powers, $4.2m will be invested to offer support for victims who experienced sexual harm and abuse from another student – either online or in person – through Sexual Assault Services Victoria. The state budget also allocated $10.4m to expand the Positive Behaviour Support program, which teaches students appropriate behaviour, develops safe learning spaces and offers support for students who require behavioural assistance.
