The Minns Labour Government has chosen to extend strict bail testing for young people accused of stealing cars or breaking into homes.  

An additional test under section 22C of the Bail Act 2013 was introduced by State Government last year in response to concerns about youth crime. It applies to young people aged 14 to 18 who commit car theft or break and enter offence while on bail. Under the law, only offenders the bail authority have a high degree of confidence will not reoffend can be granted bail.  

Section 22C was first introduced as temporary, and expected to expire in 4 April 2025, but Government legislated to have them extended until April 2028. 

Early data shows the bail refusal rate under 22C is more than double the general bail refusal rate for young people charged with similar offences. But does more bail refusal equal less crime?  

Chairman of the Safer Coonamble group, Dennis Glover, is supportive of the strengthened bail laws.  

"Well, you've got to have strong enough laws to enforce.  

"Some kids will not change by other means, so you need the law to control them."  

The Safer Coonamble group was formed in early 2024, due to concerns about property crime and drug and alcohol related offences amongst young people and adults.

It is supported by local services, the Coonamble District Chamber of Commerce, the Coonamble Aboriginal Working Party and the Local Aboriginal Land Council.  

"We need stricter laws, you can't pussyfoot around. It won't happen overnight but it's a start," said Mr Glover, adding the situation has improved in the last five years.  

Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) does show some reduction in crime rates in the Coonamble LGA from 2014 to 2024, with break and enter dwelling offences down 5.6 per cent and malicious damage to property down 5.5 per cent. But rates of domestic violence related assault and common assault both remained the same.   

"It's cheaper and easier if you get kids out of the system from the start.  

"If they can divert them early into programs they can change for the better. With better role models and supervisors they can be part of the community," said Mr Glover. 

The extension on stricter bail laws comes at the same time as the NSW State Government is holding a parliamentary inquiry into community safety in regional and rural communities.

The inquiry, which was supposed to hand-down an interim report in March this year, has been given an extended deadline due to the amount of submissions they received.  

Country Mayors' Association (CMA) Executive Board Member and Tamworth Mayor, Russell Webb, who submitted to the inquiry, says bail laws are only one part of the issue, and communities and governments need to focus on long-term solutions.  

"I will mainly be talking about programs and intervention at parliamentary inquiry. Focusing on getting to young juveniles before they get to offending. 

"If we don't do that, it's going to be a race to a very bad end."  

Bourke Shire council also made a submission to the inquiry supporting many of the CMA NSW recommendations for change.  

Last year, the State Government announced a $26.2 million community safety package. Last month they also later announced an additional $6 million to support community safety across Bourke, Moree and Kempsey. 

Stricter bail laws have been in place for less than a year, making it difficult to say if they have reduced crime rates, but locals are hopeful the additional support will help make the region a safer place.