The Victorian Government will establish a night court for magistrates to hear after-hours bail requests, as part of a big shake-up of the system following Melbourne’s Bourke Street mall tragedy.
Accused killer Dimitrious Gargasoulas was released by a bail justice days before he allegedly mowed down pedestrians in the mall last Friday.
Five people died, including a three-month-old baby boy, 10-year-old Thalia Hakin, 22-year-old Jess Mudie and 33-year-old Matthew Si, and more than 30 people were injured.
Announcing the shake-up, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the tragedy would spark “legitimate questions” and “profound anger”.
“All of us feel it. How could this have happened? How could such a tragedy have come to our city? How could so many lives end and so many lives change forever?” he said.
Mr Andrews said while the bail system had undergone many changes in the two years since his Government came to office, it was clear “we need to go much further”.
“We need to have a really close look at each and every element of our bail system and we need to make profound change for the future to keep Victoria safe,” Mr Andrews said.
He said an after-hours magistrates’ court would be established to consider bail applications for people charged with violent crimes when police oppose bail.
The Government has also asked former Supreme Court judge and Director of Public Prosecutions Justice Paul Coghlan to provide urgent advice about additional changes to the bail system.
“This will be a full examination with the provision of urgent advice which will be provided to the Government by April 3 for legislative change, for reform, for the sort of reform that has to be made to keep Victorians safe and the sort of change that we owe these victims and their families,” he said.
“We owe them the hard work, the determination and the completion of those changes.”
Mr Andrews said 15 people remain in hospital, two of whom remain in a critical condition.
“We have grave fears for their health and wellbeing,” he said.
The Victorian Government set up a fund for the families affected by the incident.
It pledged an initial $100,0000 and said anyone who wanted to make a donation could do via the Victorian Government’s website, or by calling 1800 226 226.
A vigil is also being planned for tonight, at Federation Square.
This post originally appeared on ABC News.
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