As you can see, Mr. Chair, PV-16, PV-17 and PV-18 presented by the Green Party are all dealing with the same subsection around additional conditions for bail. This one would remove the peace officer's ability to set onerous conditions that would limit the accused's freedom, potentially violating their right to the presumption of innocence. This was again found in the evidence from the society that represents those lawyers who practise legal aid law, that a release on an undertaking occurs without the oversight of a justice of the peace or a judge and without the benefit of a defence lawyer at the side of the accused person. It leaves the vulnerable accused person at the whim of the officer writing the conditions of her release. Due to the power imbalance, accused persons will often agree to any condition, no matter how unreasonable or unlawful, simply because they are afraid of the prospect of being held for bail in a detention centre.
Again, I will foreshorten my presentation on this, but I hope everyone here remembers the evidence. The theme and the spirit of this bill are met by accepting this amendment.
Thank you.