‘As soon as possible’: No timeframe for rollout of ankle bracelets for DV accused
Premier Chris Minns says he is unable to give a timeframe on the rollout of electronic monitoring bracelets for men accused of serious domestic violence offences in NSW because of the complexity of the new regime, but he has insisted the change will not be years away.
Announcing the details of a major new bail reform package on Tuesday, Minns repeatedly declined to put a timeline on law changes that will see men who are released on bail after being accused of a serious domestic violence offence being required to wear an ankle bracelet.
NSW Premier Chris Minns announced tough new bail laws after Molly Ticehurst’s death.Credit: Kate Geraghty, Sharni Tolhurst Photography
Minns instead said he would establish a taskforce to advise the government on the establishment of the new regime, including the purchase of the devices and the monitoring of alleged offenders.
“I can’t give a timeframe today. It will be as soon as possible. I’d just ask people to recognise that as it currently stands in NSW, there is no electronic monitoring for those that are out on bail,” he said.
“I want to be upfront with the community. It’s a very difficult task and as a result of that I need time for government departments to set up and stand up a system that will work ... It will not be switched on until we’re confident that the regime is in place and therefore [it] is an option for a magistrate or a judge when they’re granting or determining bail.
“It’s not going to be years away.”
The devices have been used for domestic violence offenders on parole in NSW in a limited capacity since 2016. A 2022 review by the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research found they did lead to a reduction in re-offending.
Only last week, Minns expressed reservations about expanding electronic monitoring to those out on bail, due partly to the challenge of resourcing the scheme. He rejected calls from the opposition for a rollout of ankle bracelets for all men accused of serious domestic violence offences.
But other changes to bail laws announced by the government on Tuesday would mean a “big chunk” of serious offenders would remain in prison, Minns said.
At the centre of the reform package is a reversal of the presumption of bail against men accused of serious domestic or family violence offences. That includes intimate partner violence which involves elements such as sexual assault, strangulation, kidnapping or coercive control.
The addition of those offences to the list of “show cause” offences in NSW — serious crimes in which the presumption is against bail — meant Minns was comfortable electronic monitoring would work.
“As a result of our changes, a big chunk of that community, that group, will be remanded in custody,” he said.
“So I was more comfortable that we would have a smaller cohort to electronically monitor as a result of these changes, primarily because there’ll be a large group that are remanded in prison. And that’s the difference between the government’s plan and the opposition’s proposed policy.”
Among the reforms to be introduced in parliament by the government this week is a change to mean bail decisions on serious offences are made by magistrates and judges, and not court registrars, as in the case of Forbes woman Molly Ticehurst’s alleged murderer, Daniel Billings.
Minns also did not give a timeframe for that change, but said it would involve rolling out audiovisual technology to regional courts that do not currently have it, and resourcing for weekend magistrates.
“There’s some resourcing and logistics issues that the attorney-general is working out with the chief magistrate. So we don’t anticipate it will be too long,” he said.
The government’s bail reforms follow its announcement last week of a $230 million package aimed at increasing domestic violence support and prevention. The changes have been prompted by public outcry after a series of high-profile alleged domestic violence offences, including Ticehurst’s.
Attorney-General Michael Daley said he had spoken to Ticehurst’s family on Monday, saying it was a “very sad, respectful conversation, where they were very grateful for the fact that we will bringing these laws in”.
Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said the Coalition would wait for the details of the bill, but he supported the changes in principle.
“There is a need to act swiftly, and it is of utmost importance that these reforms be given priority and are considered expeditiously by the parliament,” Speakman said.