Turnbull puts parole ban on COAG agenda

LAW and order will top the agenda when Australian premiers and Prime Minister Malcolm meet in Hobart on Friday for the Council of Australian Governments meeting.

Mr Turnbull will ask the states to ban parole for violent offenders after a terror incident in Melbourne.

Gunman Yacqub Khayre was on parole when he shot dead a clerk in a Melbourne apartment block on Monday night, and was later killed in a shootout with police. Khayre had served jail time over a violent burglary in 2012 and had been on parole for arson since November.

He spent 16 months on remand before being acquitted of the 2009 Holsworthy army barracks terror plot in Sydney.

The prime minister, who will convene the COAG meeting, said the issue of parole was a high priority. “There have been too many cases of people on parole committing violent offences of this kind,” Mr Turnbull said in Canberra.

He questioned why Khayre was released on parole, given his extensive criminal history and links with terror.

“I have raised these today with the Victorian premier, whom I called last night and I called again this morning,” Mr Turnbull said.

“How was this man on parole? He had a long record of violence. A very long record of violence. He had been charged with a terrorist offence some years ago and had been acquitted.” The issue was clear-cut for Justice Minister Michael Keenan.

“Violent offenders should not be on parole and the prime minister will be raising this important issue with premiers on Friday,” Mr Keenan said.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said it was baffling that the man was on parole.

“If we know the person is a criminal, what are they doing out on the streets?” Mr Shorten said.

The Prime Minister and the state premiers are also expected to receive the final report of a review into the electricity sector at COAG. AAP