Australia Criminal Law: Bail, Coercive Control and Related Topics
Bail laws across all 8 Australian states and territories, the current status of coercive control offences, and links to related criminal law topics.
4 min read
Australia Criminal Law
11 articles
Bail in NSW: The Bail Act 2013, Show Cause and Bail Concerns
How bail decisions work in New South Wales under the Bail Act 2013, including show cause offences, the bail concern and unacceptable risk test, and the 2024 domestic violence reforms.
11 min read
Bail in Queensland: the Bail Act 1980, Unacceptable Risk and Show Cause
How Queensland decides bail under the Bail Act 1980: the unacceptable risk test, section 16(3) show cause offences, conditions, breach penalties and 2024 to 2026 reforms.
10 min read
Bail in South Australia: The Bail Act 1985, Prescribed Applicants and Special Circumstances
How bail works in South Australia under the Bail Act 1985: the section 10 test, section 10A prescribed applicants, mandatory electronic monitoring since October 2024, and breach penalties.
13 min read
Bail in Tasmania: Justices Act Interests of Justice Discretion, No Codified Risk Test
How bail works in Tasmania: there is no unacceptable risk test in the Bail Act 1994. The decision sits mainly in Justices Act 1959 sections 34 and 35, with a stricter family violence rule.
14 min read
Bail in the ACT: The Bail Act 1992, Presumptions and the 2026 Reform Bill
How bail works in the ACT under the Bail Act 1992, including the presumption against bail, police bail for family violence, breach penalties, and the pending 2026 reform Bill.
11 min read
Bail in the Northern Territory: the Bail Act 1982 and the High Degree of Confidence Test
How the Northern Territory decides bail under the Bail Act 1982: the section 7A presumption against bail, the high degree of confidence test, conditions and breach penalties.
10 min read
Bail in Victoria: the Bail Act 1977 Two Step Test, Show Compelling Reason and Unacceptable Risk
How bail works in Victoria under the Bail Act 1977: the exceptional circumstances and show compelling reason tests, unacceptable risk, conditions, breach and the 2025 to 2026 reforms.
15 min read
Bail in Western Australia: The Bail Act 1982 Test and the 2024 Electronic Monitoring Reforms
How bail works in Western Australia under the Bail Act 1982: the Schedule 1 test, exceptional reasons offences, mandatory electronic monitoring since December 2024, and breach penalties.
14 min read
Bail Laws in Australia: How Every State and Territory Compares
A side by side comparison of bail law in all 8 Australian states and territories: the core test, presumptions, repeat applications, and breach of bail penalties.
18 min read
Coercive Control Laws in Australia: Where It Is a Crime and Where It Is Not
Coercive control is an offence in NSW and Queensland, Tasmania has narrower economic and emotional abuse offences, Victoria and SA have laws not yet in force, and the ACT has a Bill.
11 min read