‘OUR RISK RADARS NEED TO BE BETTER AS SAFETY OF WOMEN COMES FIRST’

A GOLD Coast sexual violence expert is calling for better risk-assessment processes when it comes to bail.

It comes after an alleged rapist was released on bail, only to be accused of raping another woman weeks later.

In a separate case, Brian Earl Johnston was on bail for serious offences when he allegedly set fire to his estranged wife Kelly Wilkinson in her Arundel backyard about 6.40am on April 20.

Gold Coast Centre Against Sexual Violence director Di Macleod said the safety of the community needed to be put first.

“Who is applying the lens of risk?” she said.

“Why are we letting these people out and granting bail when clearly the alleged behaviour precludes them from being in the public.

“We have to do a better risk assessment.

“These are serious offences. If we can’t be sure, the safety of the women has to come first.”

Bail decisions can be made by police in the watchhouse, usually for less serious charges.

More serious charges are sent to the Magistrates Court as soon as possible after an alleged offender is arrested. The police can oppose bail. If bail is denied, alleged offenders can appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.

Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman said the state government’s focus was on protecting Queenslanders and holding offenders to account.

She pointed to changes the state government made four years ago.

“That is why we strengthened our bail laws in relation to domestic and family violence in 2017, including introducing provisions to reverse the presumption in favour of bail for defendants charged with certain domestic violence related offences,” she said.

“And the Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce are undertaking a wide-ranging review into women’s’ experiences across the criminal justice system – including bail and court processes to better protect Queensland women and families.”