Melbourne car attack: Leaders pay respects to Bourke St victims, Premier mulls changes to bail laws
Updated
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews will not be drawn on a likely overhaul of the bail system following a special meeting of the Government's emergency and security subcommittee on Sunday, in response to the Bourke Street tragedy.
Key points:
- Leaders meet in wake of deadly rampage in Melbourne CBD Friday
- Premier Andrews wouldn't elaborate on possible bail reform
- Police await medical clearance to interview alleged driver Dimitrious Gargasoulas
Five people died, including a three-month-old baby boy and 10-year-old Thalia Hakin, and more than 30 people were injured after the driver sped along a footpath in Melbourne's CBD Friday afternoon.
The names of two more people who were killed, 22-year-old Jess Mudie and 33-year-old Matthew Si, were released by police on Sunday afternoon.
The suspected driver, 26-year-old Dimitrious Gargasoulas, had a violent criminal history and was "well known" to police.
Gargasoulas was charged with a crime on January 14 and was granted bail by an after-hours bail justice, despite police opposing it.
The Government's Security and Emergency Management Cabinet meets at the first opportunity after a major event or disaster.
On the agenda at Sunday's meeting was potential reform to the state's bail laws, including whether Victoria will continue to use after-hours volunteer bail justices, who are not used in any other state.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said it was his job to take the "anger and frustration" Victorians were feeling and put that into reform and change.
But he would not elaborate on what was discussed at the meeting and how bail laws might be reformed.
"I'm not here today to make any announcements about bail or those matters, I will have some things to say quite soon and I'll be more than happy to take you through the detail of that," he said.
"As a parent, it's a very sad day today, there can be nothing more innocent than a little three-month-old baby, that's our focus today, we are sad, we are angry and we are resolute in making the changes that need to be made to learn from this."
Bail justices in Victoria are trained volunteers and are only required to be Australian citizens and not insolvent.
Other jurisdictions use on-call magistrates for after hours bail hearings.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said he respected the independence of the courts, but acknowledged that police were frustrated with the bail system.
"I would be remiss if I didn't express that frustration that police members feel around the issues, but they're not just police members, I think everyone that works in the system has issues with it from time to time," he said.
The Coroner is investigating the tragedy, looking at a number of issues, including Victoria's justice system.
Victorian Opposition Leader Matthew Guy called on the Government to reform the system urgently.
"If Parliament needs to be recalled, then recall it, if the Government wants our support, they have it, if the police want to talk to us, we will," he said.
Mr Guy said the whole system needed looking at, not just after-hours bail justices.
He said everything should be on the table, including removing the presumption to bail for everyone facing a charge.
Police still waiting to charge suspect
Police have spoken to more than 300 witnesses about events at Bourke Street on Friday, and are urging others to come forward with videos or photos or the incident.
Chief Commissioner Ashton said Gargasoulas underwent surgery on his arm on Saturday night, after being shot by police before he was arrested.
Police are still waiting for medical clearance to interview and charge him.
"It's still our intention as soon as we can get that clearance to interview him and charge him and seek to remand him in custody to a future date," Chief Commissioner Ashton said.
"That still hasn't happened because of his medical condition, we did have some hopes around this afternoon, but I'm still getting some advice that it might not be this afternoon."
Four people injured in the incident remain in a critical condition at hospitals in Melbourne.
Mr Andrews said there were more than 10 people still in hospital and he had grave concerns that the death toll might still rise.
The Jewish community held a community memorial and prayer service for Thalia last night.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition leader Bill Shorten paid their respects to the victims of the Bourke Street mall tragedy.
Mr Turnbull praised the heroism of emergency workers and bystanders who assisted the victims.
"This shows a love and selflessness and a solidarity that says so much about the spirit of this city, that says so much about Australians," he said.
"We are with you, we mourn with you, we thank you, we love you."
The Victorian Government set up a fund for the families affected by the incident.
It pledged an initial $100,000 and said anyone who wanted to make a donation could do via the Victorian Government's website, or by calling 1800 226 226.
A vigil is also being planned for tonight, at Federation Square.
Topics: police, law-crime-and-justice, crime, disasters-and-accidents, community-and-society, death, melbourne-3000
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