The Albanese Government has today introduced legislation to establish a new independent Commonwealth Parole Board.
The Government's top priority is keeping Australians safe.
The Commonwealth Parole Board will strengthen community safety by empowering law enforcement and community safety experts to make critical decisions about whether convicted federal offenders are released into the community on parole, and the conditions under which they are released.
The Government's legislation aligns the Commonwealth with best practice approaches across states and territories, as well as international partners including Canada, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand.
Parole plays a vital role in our justice system. Under the right circumstances and conditions, and with decisions determined by experts from a range of professions and experience, including legal, law enforcement, corrective services, victims of crime advocates, psychologists, and other community safety experts, parole keeps the community safer. It helps with rehabilitation and reintegration, minimises reoffending, and ensures there are mandatory controls and supervision in place to protect the community.
The Government's legislation will establish the Board, its membership and functions, and its decision-making and administrative arrangements. It will also amend Part IB in the Crimes Act 1914 to replace the Attorney-General with the Board as the decision-maker for federal offenders.
The Board is expected to commence operations in the second half of 2026, subject to passage of legislation.
Quotes attributable to the Attorney-General, Hon Michelle Rowland MP:
"Community safety is the Albanese Government's number one priority.
"Decisions about whether a federal offender should be released into the community on parole should be made by law enforcement and other community safety experts, not by politicians.
"The Commonwealth Parole Board will strengthen the public's trust and confidence in the federal parole system by ensuring parole decisions are made by experts who are best placed to make robust assessments of risk when considering the protection of the community."
