From tomorrow, the final stage of Australia's toughest bail laws come into effect.
Labor's second‑strike rule means people on bail for an indictable offence who commit another indictable offence will face tougher consequences.
This change puts community safety first.
Under the change, offenders on bail for an indictable offence will no longer benefit from the 'presumption of bail'.
The second-strike rule was legislated last year.
It commences tomorrow following investments to ensure the prison system had enough beds and guards to manage the increase in prisoners.
This was necessary because this change will result in more people in jail not on bail.
Our previous bail reforms are already delivering results.
The latest crime statistics shows bail refusals and revocations are at record highs.
Magistrates remanded offenders 10,000 more times in 2025 than in 2024 - a more than 70 per cent increase.
This means Victoria's tougher bail laws are working to reduce reoffending and keep the community safe.
The Labor Government invested $727 million to ramp up the capacity in our prisons and youth justice centres.
We have also appointed seven new magistrates to support courts in managing the rise in demand due to our tough new bail laws and Adult Time for Violence Crime measures.
Last month, Adult Time for Violent Crime laws commenced.
This means children 14 and above committing serious violent crimes face adult sentences in adult courts.
Only Labor has new solutions to make life safer for Victorians.
As stated by Attorney‑General Sonya Kilkenny
"Our bail laws are putting community safety first and send a clear message that repeat offending will not be tolerated."
"These reforms go further than ever before to stop reoffending and keep the community safe."
