‘They need to be in jail’: Chris Minns set to present tougher NSW bail and remand reform package to cabinet

Premier Chris Minns has flagged a raft of tougher bail and remand reform ideas that he will table to cabinet today, to come down harder on over 39,000 cases of domestic violence before the NSW courts each year.

Speaking to Ben Fordham on 2GB, Minns maintained his focus was trained on high-risk offenders, particularly those who had a pattern of violence toward current or former partners.

‘’There are offenders out there who just don’t care about the threat of spending life in jail. They are still going to violently hurt the person they are targeting, and they need to be in jail.’’

Minns suggested NSW police will have greater powers to determine if offenders with patterns of violence should be held in remand or have bail refused.

‘’We have over 39,000 charges relating to domestic violence go through the NSW courts each year,’’ Minns said.

‘’We need to present a package that is balanced, but yes over 39,000 cases each year.’’

When pressed about the use of monitoring devices for violent offenders, the Premier maintained there was ongoing support for their use, but bail refusal and remand may be more prevalent.

‘’We have looked at all the programs around Australia and monitoring devices and their use will be part of the presentation.’’

Minns was very complimentary about this recent meeting with knife crime campaigner Brett Beasley, whose son Jack was killed in a Queensland stabbing attack five years ago.

Jack’s Law was implemented to give Queensland police sweeping powers to randomly search people for concealed weapons using electronic scanners.

‘’I met with Brett Beasley, and I was convinced by their argument for Jack’s Law to be implemented in NSW.’’

Speaking on a personal level Minns stated the last month had been very difficult for the people of NSW and also his family.

Fordham suggested the Bondi stabbing massacre, the stabbing of Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel at the Christ the Good Shepherd Church at Wakeley and the loss of his father had all been terrible circumstances to address.

‘’Dad’s death has knocked me around a bit and yesterday was tough,’’ Minns said.

‘’But mum reminded us that although losing dad has been tough, it is not a tragedy. He went too soon, and we would have liked to have spent more time with him, but it is not a tragedy like others are having to deal with.’’