Dr WOODRUFF - Minister, Tasmania's housing crisis has impacted on the ability of accused people to successfully get bail, for no other reason than that they lack stable accommodation. In the Greens' alternative budget, we prioritised $3.93 million over four years towards building and staffing a bail hostel. Clearly, they currently have to be housed in, I understand, the reception prisons and they are incarcerated. They haven't yet been found guilty and they are still a cost to the state by having to be housed, but they are not in a place where they are free to move around, which they would if they were on bail.
Why haven't you considered a bail hostel?
Ms ARCHER - First, I am aware of what the Greens are proposing. Members would also be aware that the Government has committed to reforming Tasmania's bail laws and that sits within that. Work on this significant project, including the scope of the new reforms and conditions that may be included by courts is underway. It's still underway but I expect we will be bringing that to the parliament next year; I think is in the legislative program, thank you. I'm getting a nod from Brooke Craven who heads up that unit.
I can say that we will not rule out any options and we will recognise that this is obviously a complex problem but more work needs to be done in this area in terms of bail. The bail reform is very complex.
