Victoria Opposition Leader Jess Wilson (Liberal Party) announced plans to establish a dedicated criminal court of review to overhaul the state's justice system [1, 2].
The proposal seeks to separate criminal appeals from civil matters to improve the handling of bail decisions, and increase protections for victims [1, 3].
Wilson said the current system is inefficient because a single court of appeal manages both civil and criminal cases [1]. She said this structure contributes to a "revolving door of bail" under the current Labor government [1, 2].
To implement the new court, Wilson said the state will have to appoint new judges with criminal expertise [1]. This specialized approach is intended to ensure that legal decisions regarding the detention of accused individuals are handled by experts in criminal law rather than generalists [1].
Wilson said the Liberal Party wants to make sure that the criminal justice system is actually working for Victorians [1]. She said the current balance of the system has shifted too far toward the interests of offenders over those of the victims [3].
The proposed overhaul focuses on the structural separation of the judiciary to streamline the appeals process. By creating a specialized review body, the opposition aims to reduce the frequency of bail grants for high-risk offenders [1, 2].
Wilson said the reform is necessary to restore public confidence in the rule of law within Victoria [1]. The plan remains a central part of the opposition's platform to challenge the Labor government's approach to public safety [2, 3].
“"Right now, we have one court of appeal that deals with both civil matters and criminal matters."”
This proposal signals a shift toward a more specialized judiciary in Victoria, moving away from a generalist court of appeal. If implemented, the creation of a dedicated criminal court of review would likely lead to stricter scrutiny of bail applications and a more streamlined process for criminal appeals, reflecting a policy priority of prioritizing victim safety over defendant liberty.
