ByLawyers News and Updates

Bail Division – NSW

by

A new centralised Bail Division has been introduced in the Local Court of NSW to hear weekday adult bail matters from across the State. All matters will be heard by audio visual link.

Practice Note – Bail Division Proceedings has effect from 7 July 2025 and sets out the practice and procedure in the Bail Division, in conjunction with Practice Note – Criminal Crim 1 and Practice Note – Domestic Violence Matters – 2/2012.

All applications will be conducted in open court subject to any orders for restricted access.

The Bail Division will only hear first instance applications for bail by adult applicants who have been refused police bail.

Only applications received by the court before 12 noon will be heard on the day. Any accused who fails to make the deadline will have priority in the next day’s Bail Division list at 9.30 am.

Any documents relied on in support of a bail application must be filed electronically with the registry and sent to the prosecution before the hearing.

Oral submissions are limited to 10 minutes per application for both sides, unless the court allows further time. If a matter is not reached by 4 pm it will be stood over to the next available court day.

When a bail application is made, the court must complete a Summary of Reasons for Bail Decision of Court Form, which is annexed to the Practice Note – Bail Division Proceedings.

For bail applications made on weekends in Centralised Bail Courts, Practice Note – Bail Proceedings (Weekend Centralised Bail Courts) sets out the practice and procedure to be adopted in the proceedings, in conjunction with Practice Note – Criminal Crim 1.

A new Practice Note – Court Closure AVL Proceedings (Downing Centre) provides that unless an order has been made to bring the defendant before the court in person, all hearings scheduled before the Local Court Downing Centre for persons in custody must be conducted by way of audio visual link if it is reasonably practical and the accused or their legal representative consent.

The By Lawyers Local Court – Criminal publication has been updated accordingly.

Bail conditions – SA

by

New mandatory bail conditions apply for certain applicants in South Australia from 1 October 2024.

The Bail (Conditions) Amendment Act 2024 introduces new sub-section (2ae) into s 11 of the Bail Act 1985 that provides for mandatory conditions to apply if bail is granted for charges that constitute a breach of intervention orders involving physical violence or threats of physical violence.

If bail is granted to a person charged with the relevant offences, it must be subject to conditions that the bailee remains at their residential address except for work, medical, or emergency reasons, and agrees to be fitted with an electronic monitoring device.

The new provisions concerning mandatory conditions only apply to adult offenders.

The transitional provisions in the amending Act provide that the new provisions concerning mandatory conditions only apply to bail applicants taken into custody on a charge for an offence allegedly committed after the commencement of the amending Act on 1 October 2024.

The By Lawyers Magistrates Court Criminal (SA) publication has been updated accordingly. In the course of making these changes, new commentary has also been added including a section concerning second or subsequent applications for bail.

Bail – NSW

by

From 1 July 2024 serious domestic violence offences and coercive control are included as offences to which the show cause requirement applies for bail to be granted in New South Wales courts.

Section 16B of the Bail Act 2013 lists offences for which bail must be refused, unless the accused can show cause why their detention is not justified. These are all serious offences, generally involving violence, including sexual offences, plus drug dealing and firearms offences.

Following proclamation of the Bail and Other Legislation Amendment (Domestic Violence) Act 2024, serious domestic violence offences, and the new offence of coercive control under s 54D of the Crimes Act 1900 are included in s 16B.

Serious domestic violence offences are defined in s 4 of the Crimes Act 1900 as those under Part 3 of the Act, being crimes against the person, that have a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment or more if the offence is committed by a person against an intimate partner, or equivalent offences under a law of the Commonwealth or another State or Territory.

Further the amendments require that, if bail is granted for a s 16B offence, it must be subject to a condition for electronic monitoring, unless the bail authority making the grant is satisfied there are sufficient reasons in the interest of justice not to impose such a condition.

The section on bail in the Full Commentary in the By Lawyers Local Court – Criminal (NSW) guide has been updated in accordance with these amendments.

 

Bail amendments – VIC

by

The latest raft of bail amendments have effect from 24 March 2024.

Changes to the Bail Act 1977 under the Bail Amendment Act 2023 and Bail Amendment Regulations 2024 include:

Second bail application now permitted

The amendments allow an accused person to make a second legally-represented bail application before a court without having to establish new facts or circumstances. This addresses the issue of lawyers being reluctant to represent an accused person on a bail application at the first possible opportunity because of the concern it will exclude them from making a better-prepared application a bit later, which has contributed to a high number of short-duration remands.

Changes of terminology and defined terms

These bail amendments include changes in terminology:

  • from surety and persons offering a surety, to bail guarantee and bail guarantors; and
  • from undertaking to bail undertaking, which accords with a slight amendment to the definition of an undertaking in s 3, so that it means a bail undertaking given under s 5(1) to surrender into custody at the time and place specified for the next appearance, rather than undertaking more generally under s 5 or otherwise.

Refinements to the unacceptable risk test

Under the current test, a person can be remanded in custody if there is a perceived risk of even minor reoffending. To address this, the amendments refine the unacceptable risk test so that an accused person cannot be refused bail on specified minor offences unless they have a terrorism record and have previously had their bail for the same offences revoked. The offences to which this provision applies are any under the Summary Offences Act 1966 except those listed in a new Schedule 3 to the Bail Act, relating to violent and sexual offences. Accused persons released on bail for these offences can still be subject to strict bail conditions.

Additional surrounding circumstances

When considering the surrounding circumstances under s 3AAA of the Bail Act in the context of determining bail, the bail decision-maker must take into account, if relevant, several new factors in addition to those already listed in the section, being:

  • whether, if the accused is found guilty, it is likely they would be sentenced to a term of imprisonment and, if so, that the time they would spend on remand if bail is refused would exceed the term of imprisonment;
  • whether the accused was on remand for another offence or was at large awaiting sentence for another offence; and
  • any special vulnerability of the accused, including being an Aboriginal person, being a child, experiencing ill health including mental illness, or having a disability.

Aboriginal people

Section 3A of the Bail Act provides a list of non-exhaustive considerations that must be taken into account when making a bail determination concerning an Aboriginal person. The section has been amended to give greater guidance to bail decision-makers, who will now be required to consider:

  • systemic factors that have resulted, and continue to result in the over-representation of Aboriginal people in the criminal justice system and remand population, and the increased risks of Aboriginal people in custody;
  • personal circumstances that may make an Aboriginal person particularly vulnerable in custody, may be a causal factor for offending behaviour, or may be disrupted by being remanded -such as disability, trauma, family violence, involvement with child protection, housing insecurity, and caring responsibilities;
  • the importance of maintaining protective factors that play a significant role in rehabilitation, such as connection to culture, kinship, family, Elders, country and community; and
  • any other cultural obligations.

Children

These bail amendments update the child-specific considerations in the Act limit the applicability of the step 1 exceptional circumstances test and the step 1 compelling reason test to children charged with a small number of very serious offences, or with a record or risk of terrorist activities. In addition to the current considerations in s 3B of the Bail Act, bail decision-makers will need consider the need to impose on the child the minimum intervention required in the circumstances, with remand of the child being a last resort

Review

A new s 32C of the Bail Act provides that the Attorney-General must conduct a review of the operation of these bail amendments no later than 2 years after their commencement.

Publication updates

The By Lawyers Criminal Magistrates’ Court guide has been updated accordingly.

Bail provision – NSW

by

A new provision of the Bail Act 2013 commenced on 30 October 2023, under the Justice Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous) Act 2023.

The new provision, s 28A of the Bail Act, enables a bail authority to impose a bail condition that an accused person only be released on bail into the care or company of a specified person or class of persons. This is called an accompaniment requirement.

The bail authority can impose such a condition as a pre-release requirement on an accused person’s bail. The condition is met when the specified person, or a person of the specified class, is present at the place from which the accused person is to be released on bail, and able to accompany them.

The condition is intended to be used to address identified bail concerns.

Reference to a class of persons is intended to ensure an accused person can be accompanied, where applicable, by someone from an organisation such as the National Disability Insurance Service or Youth Justice, in circumstances where the specific identity of the accompanying person may not be known in advance.

This new provision is subject to the existing provisions of the Act. Section 20A requires the bail authority to assess bail concerns and impose conditions that are:

  • reasonably necessary to address a bail concern,
  • no more onerous than necessary to address the bail concern in relation to which it is imposed, and
  • reasonably practicable for the accused person to comply with.

The commentary about bail in the By Lawyers Local Court Criminal guide has been amended accordingly, and the Retainer instructions – Bail precedent has been amended to prompt the practitioner to seek instructions about an accompanying person or persons.

Bail amendments – WA

by

Bail amendments under the Bail Amendment Act 2022 received assent and commenced on 3 September 2022.

The Bail Act 1982 has been amended in a number of small but important respects, aimed mainly at better protecting the safety and welfare of victims of child sexual offences.

These latest bail amendments include:

  • provision ensuring that a person charged with a serious offence cannot be released without bail;
  • deleting the definition of serious offence under s 6A of the Act, so that the definition of serious offence in s 3 applies throughout the Act. This means that all serious offences are now listed in Schedule 2 of the Act, with the sole exception of the offence of breaching bail under s 51(2a) of the Act;
  • highlighting the capacity of bail decision makers to defer bail under s 9 to inform protective bail conditions in cases involving alleged sexual offences against children;
  • requiring bail decision makers to consider the conduct of the accused towards any alleged victim of the current offences and any victim of an offence the accused has previously been convicted of including any conduct towards the victim’s family;
  • requiring bail decision makers to take into account specific additional considerations that are specific to bail in cases involving alleged sexual offences against child victims;
  • requiring judicial officers to consider the fact that a person has been convicted of an offence and any sentence that is likely to be imposed when determining bail for an accused awaiting sentencing; and
  • expanding the list of serious offences under Schedule 2 to the Act. This means that a broader category of accused persons charged with serious offences while already on bail or on early release for another serious offence will bear the onus of satisfying the court
    that there are exceptional reasons why they should not be kept in custody.

The commentary on bail and the Retainer instructions – Bail precedent in the By Lawyers Magistrates Court (WA) – Criminal publication have been updated to reflect these bail amendments.

Bail after conviction – NSW

by

Bail after conviction must now be refused for offences where the accused will receive full time imprisonment, unless special or exceptional circumstances exist.

The Bail Amendment Act 2022 (NSW) commenced on 27 June. It adds a new s 22B to the Bail Act 2013.

The new section provides that on an application for bail after conviction of an accused person, before they are sentenced for an offence for which they will receive full-time custody, the court must refuse bail unless the accused can establish special or exceptional circumstances exist to justify the decision to grant or dispense with bail.

The same applies to a detention application brought by the prosecution in the Supreme Court under Section 40 of the Bail Act.

However, if the offence of which the accused person has been convicted is a show cause offence, the requirement for the accused person to establish special or exceptional circumstances to justify a decision to grant bail or dispense with bail applies instead of the requirement that the accused person show cause why their detention is not justified.

The Bail section of the By Lawyers Criminal – Local Court NSW commentary has been updated accordingly.

COVID Recovery – VIC

by

Practice Direction No. 3 of 2022 – COVID recovery currently applies to all types of matters in the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria. It overrides any other directions to the extent of any inconsistency.

In general, remote appearances by clients and practitioners are available, encouraged, and in some cases required. However, physical appearances are also possible, mainly by request, and in some cases required.

The practice direction sets out detailed special arrangements for all types of appearances, including:

  • accused on bail or summons;
  • bail applications and other hearings with the accused in custody;
  • criminal mentions and applications;
  • Specialist courts and programs;
  • intervention orders – applications and hearings;
  • civil hearings including oral examinations;
  • counter services.

In some instances it is necessary for practitioners to email the court and request permission to make a physical appearance in a matter.

The By Lawyers commentaries in all publications involving the Magistrates’ Court have been updated with a link to the practice direction.

  • Magistrates’ Court – Criminal
  • Intervention Orders
  • Traffic Offences
  • Magistrates’ Court Civil – Act for the plaintiff
  • Magistrates’ Court Civil – Act for the defendant
  • Enforcement

These COVID recovery arrangements under the practice direction continue indefinitely at this stage.

Serial family violence – WA

by

From 1 January 2021 new provisions regarding serial family violence commence in WA. These are the final provisions of the Family Violence Legislation Reform Act 2020. Various sections of this amending Act have commenced over the course of the year. The amendments affect the Criminal Code, Sentencing Act 1995, Bail Act 1982 and Restraining Orders Act 1997, among others.

Serial family violence

From 1 January 2021 there is a presumption against bail for a person charged with a ‘family violence offence’ who has been declared a ‘serial family violence offender’. These terms are defined in s 3 of the Bail Act.

The presumption may be rebutted if there are exceptional reasons why the accused should not be kept in custody and the bail authority is satisfied bail may properly be granted.

Previous amendments

Practitioners will recall that the previously commenced provisions of the amending Act include:

Family violence – Bail considerations

The court may defer consideration of bail for 30 days for an accused charged with an offence where the accused is in a ‘family relationship’ with the victim, as defined in s 3 of the Bail Act. The purpose of the deferral is to allow the court to determine what, if any, bail conditions should be imposed to enhance the protection of the victim of the alleged offence.

There are additional provisions relating to the interaction of bail conditions and restraining orders.

Family violence – Restraining orders

Sections 3 to 6A of the Restraining Orders Act 1997 define all relevant terms used in the Act, including what constitutes ‘family violence’.

Some of the amendments deal with the conduct of family violence proceedings.

The court must enquire as to whether any family law orders are in place for the parties to a restraining order application before the court makes a restraining order. If family law orders are in place, the court must take reasonable steps to obtain a copy or information about the orders and take their terms into account.

At any defended hearing the court is not bound by the rules of evidence and may inform itself on any matter in such a manner as it sees fit: s 44A. This section also specifically makes hearsay evidence admissible.

Victims of family violence may have one or more support person with them when they give evidence.

The court, either on its own motion or at the request of a party, may use CCTV or other screening arrangements for the giving of evidence by any party or witness in restraining order proceedings, subject to consideration of a number of factors set out in s 44E.

More information

The By Lawyers Criminal and Restraining orders guides have been updated accordingly. The changes to these publications will be live from 1 January 2021.

Family violence – WA

by

From 6 August 2020 some provisions of the Family Violence Legislation Reform Act 2020 commence, amending the Criminal Code, Sentencing Act 1995, Bail Act 1982 and Restraining Orders Act 1997, among others.

Family violence – Bail considerations

The court may defer consideration of bail for 30 days for an accused charged with an offence where the accused is in a family relationship with the victim, as defined in s 3 of the Bail Act. The purpose of the deferral is to allow the court to determine what, if any, bail conditions should be imposed to enhance the protection of the victim of the alleged offence.

There are additional provisions relating to the interaction of bail conditions and restraining orders.

Family violence – Restraining orders

Sections 3 to 6A of the Restraining Orders Act define all relevant terms used in the Act, including what constitutes ‘family violence’.

Some of the amendments deal with the conduct of family violence proceedings.

The court must enquire as to whether any family law orders are in place for the parties to a restraining order application before the court makes a restraining order. If family law orders are in place, the court must take reasonable steps to obtain a copy or information about the orders and take their terms into account.

At any defended hearing the court is not bound by the rules of evidence and may inform itself on any matter in such a manner as it sees fit: s 44A. This section also specifically makes hearsay evidence admissible.

Victims of family violence may have one or more support person with them when they give evidence.

The court, either on its own motion or at the request of a party, may use CCTV or other screening arrangements for the giving of evidence by any party or witness in restraining order proceedings, subject to consideration of a number of factors set out in s 44E.

More information

The By Lawyers Criminal and Restraining orders guides have been updated accordingly.

Further provisions of the amending Act will commence in October 2020. By Lawyers guides will be further updated when those amendments commence.

Connect with us