25th Nov 2021, 10:47 AM – Senate Crimes Amendment (Remissions of Sentences) Bill 2021 - Second Reading - Agree with bill's main idea

The majority voted in favour of a motion to agree with the bill's main idea. In parliamentary jargon, they voted to read the bill for a second time. This means they can now discuss the bill in more detail before deciding on whether to pass the bill in the Senate.

What is the bill's main idea?

According to the bill's digest, the bill was introduced to:

repeal section 19AA, which applies remissions or reductions granted under state or territory laws to federal sentences and impose a consistent regime in every jurisdiction that allows courts to consider periods of compliance with parole obligations when dealing with federal offenders for breaches of parole.

It further explained that:

The Commonwealth does not own or operate any prisons and federal prisoners are housed in state and territory prisons. As of June 2021, 1,151 people were serving federal sentences in prisons across Australia. Prisons located in Victoria accommodated 317 people serving federal sentences as of June 2021 (that is, 27.5% of all persons serving federal sentences). As at 30 June 2020, convicted federal offenders comprised approximately six per cent of Victoria’s total prison population.

[...]

Victoria is currently the only jurisdiction with laws providing significant remissions or reductions that are applicable to federal offenders' sentences. In Victoria these remissions are known as emergency management days (EMDs).

The Bill was prompted by the granting of EMDs in Victoria; however, it will also apply to federal prisoners in any state or territory which makes provisions in the future allowing for the remission or reduction of sentences.