“Entirely routine” that Bourke Street terrorist was out on bail for driving offences: Attorney General

Attorney General Martin Pakula says Victoria Police have described the scenario that terrorist Hassan Shire Ali was out on bail at the time of the Bourke Street attack, as “entirely routine”.

Ali was facing several separate driving offences, including one of driving without a license and had failed to attend court hearings on multiple occasions, extending back years.

The 30-year-old still had his bail extended.

“It is not at all common for police to seek to remand in custody, people who are charged with driving offences even in circumstances where they don’t attend at court,” Mr Pakula said this afternoon.

“Particularly when they do not have a history of violent offending and in this case, this individual did not have a history of violent offending.

“Police have described this to me as ‘entirely routine’.

“And for the Opposition to say that under their regime this person would have been remanded in custody is simply untrue.”

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Shadow Attorney General John Pesutto hit back, saying the justice system as it stands, is simply not good enough.

“It doesn’t protect us well enough,” Mr Pesutto said.

“How many innocent lives do we have to lose?”

Image: Sky News