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Bail Act 1992
44Right of review of bail decisions—prosecution
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44 Right of review of bail decisions—prosecution
(1) This section applies to a decision by a court in relation to bail for an
accused person charged with a family violence offence or a serious
(2) The director of public prosecutions may apply to the Supreme Court
for review of the decision if the director of public prosecutions
considers that exceptional circumstances exist and that it is in the
public interest to make the application.
(3) An application must be made, and written notice of the application
given to the accused person—
(a) within 2 hours after the decision is made; or
(b) if the decision is made between 4 pm on a day and 8 am the next
day (day 2)—by 10 am on day 2 (whether or not it is a working
day).
(4) However, an application may only be made if the director of public
prosecutions gives the court that made the decision oral notice of the
proposed application immediately after the decision is made.
(5) On giving notice under subsection (4), the operation of the decision
is stayed until the first of the following happens:
(a) the director of public prosecutions tells the court that made the
decision that an application will not be made;
(b) the period for making the application and giving written notice
under subsection (3) has ended and the director of public
prosecutions has not—
(i) made an application; and
(ii) given written notice of the application to the accused
person;
(c) the Supreme Court makes a decision on the application;
(d) 48 hours have passed since notice was given under
subsection (4) and the Supreme Court has not made a decision
on the application.
family violence offence—see the Family Violence Act 2016,
dictionary.
serious offence means—
(a) an offence that involves causing harm, or threatening to cause
harm, to anyone, punishable by imprisonment for more than
10 years; or
(b) an offence under the Criminal Code, chapter 3 (Theft, fraud,
bribery and related offences), punishable by imprisonment for
more than 10 years; or
(c) an offence under the Criminal Code, part 4.1 (Property damage
offences), punishable by imprisonment for more than 14 years;
or
(d) an offence under the Criminal Code, chapter 6 (Serious drug
offences), punishable by imprisonment for more than 10 years.