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The Nationals and Liberals promise tougher sentencing, specialist criminal appeal court, greater transparency for VictoriansThe Nationals and Liberals pledge tougher sentencing, a specialist Criminal Appeal Court and greater transparency, including Children’s Court data, to restore confidence, strengthen accountability and address Victoria’s crime crisis. By news@gippsland - 27th August 2026 - Back to News The Nationals and Liberals in government will restore confidence in Victoria’s justice system by strengthening sentencing laws to ensure serious offenders face meaningful consequences and improving transparency in judicial decision-making. Under the plan, the existing Court of Appeal will be split into two - a Court of Criminal Appeal and a Court of Civil Appeal - allowing additional specialist judges to be appointed to the new standalone Court of Criminal Appeal. 
Martin Cameron says tougher sentencing, greater transparency and more police will end lenient bail and hold repeat offenders accountable across Victoria Tougher sentencing proposedThe new Court of Criminal Appeal will ensure sentences for serious crimes match community expectations, and give effect to tough new bail and sentencing laws that will be introduced before Christmas. The Nationals and Liberals will also publish comprehensive sentencing data and, for the first time, Children’s Court outcomes, so Victorians can hold the system to account. This will improve the Sentencing Advisory Council’s data reporting by breaking down outcomes by type and explaining the length of a sentence compared with the possible available sentence. The Nationals’ Member for Morwell, Martin Cameron, said Victorians were sick of watching repeat offenders receive nothing more than a slap on the wrist. Crime reform promisedMr Cameron said, "Victorians have had enough of the Labor-made crime crisis, and none more than in the Latrobe Valley where we continue to have the highest crime rate outside of Melbourne. Our reforms will end the revolving door of bail and lenient sentencing, and restore a justice system that holds offenders to account and keeps people safe." "The new Court of Criminal Appeal will set a clear precedent and make sure sentences finally meet community expectations. By publishing comprehensive sentencing data, including for Children’s Court outcomes, we’ll improve transparency so Victorians can see the sentences being handed down across the justice system." "These reforms are one part of our full plan to end the crime crisis, alongside 3,000 additional police, Break Bail Face Jail, and genuine Adult Crime Adult Time laws, so offenders face the full force of the law in Victoria under The Nationals and Liberals," Mr Cameron said. Pictures from Martin Cameron MP website.
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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