[no bill text published] Stricter parole eligibility and decision requirements for federal prisoners
Commonwealth Parole Board (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025
1st House
2nd House
Law
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
The Commonwealth Parole Board cannot grant parole to certain prisoners unless exceptional circumstances exist.
The Board can cancel a parole order if a prisoner poses a serious risk to community safety; it can also cancel an order if the prisoner is a risk to themselves.
The Board must decide whether to grant, refuse, or defer parole before a prisoner's non-parole period ends.
The Board must reconsider a parole refusal within 12 to 24 months.
The Board is not required to decide on parole for prisoners who are still serving State or Territory sentences; this includes those serving life sentences without a fixed non-parole period.
The Board must give written reasons within 14 days if it refuses or defers a parole application.