Wangaratta’s Tania Maxwell used her submission to the Victorian government’s review of bail laws to advocate for a stricter focus on a person’s criminal history.

“Bail should not be considered when an offender has a past history of violent and sexual offences,” she said.

“Community safety must be the number one priority at all times when bail is being considered.

“Presumption of innocence and presumption of guilt should be abolished and each case presented on its own individual merit.”

Ms Maxwell said the government should give police more powers to hold alleged offenders in custody, rather than having their efforts hampered by bail laws.

“Magistrates are renowned for letting offenders out on bail – there needs to be more accountability by magistrates and their reasons for releasing an offender on bail should be made available to the public,” she said. 

“We have become such a soft society on criminals, which has led to Victoria becoming a state with high offending and community safety being jeopardised daily. Victorians are sick of the way we are being treated.

“Offenders are being given all the rights, whilst the community is being held ransom to the offenders.”

The submission also suggested keeping bail justices, rather than shelving the role in favour of night magistrates, and giving police and bail justices access to offenders’ social media pages before making a decision.

“This does not go against the human rights as social media is a public forum and the consideration for community safety must override any human rights for the offender,” Ms Maxwell said.

A group calling itself the “bail justices working party” also advocated for their jobs to remain.

“The current and ongoing drift by government to divert attention from the main cause of the state’s crime dilemma ... will not do our politicians or the communities they are responsible for protecting any favours,” the submission stated.

Paul Coghlan QC, who is conducting the review, will provide a response to the government by April 3.