Victoria’s parole laws are being tightened up, in a move that will deliver the state “Australia’s toughest parole regime”, Minister for Corrections Andrew McIntosh says.
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It follows cases where murder has been committed by an offender on parole from a jail sentence at the time.
Under the changes, parolees who reoffend will have their parole automatically cancelled or reassessed.
Member for Western Victoria David O’Brien joined with the parents of murder victim Elsa Corp to welcome the introduction of the Bill to state parliament.
David Patrick Clifford was on parole for drug trafficking when he bashed, stabbed and fatally strangled 26-year-old Elsa Janet Corp in a South Melbourne hotel room on February 1, 2010.
Mr O’Brien said parole was a privilege not a right.
“Our justice system should demand the very best behaviour of criminals on parole, whilst they continue to serve out the sentence they received as a result of their conviction,” he said.
As part of the changes, sex offenders and serious violent offenders convicted of a sex or violent offence while on parole will automatically have parole cancelled.
All other offenders convicted of fresh offences carrying a term of imprisonment while on parole must be reassessed by a board, with a presumption parole will be cancelled.
