Victoria’s bail laws have undergone major reform with the Bail Amendment Act 2025. This short, focused session unpacks the key changes—heightened emphasis on community safety, new offences for breaching bail and significant shifts in youth justice. Learn how these updates affect bail applications, police procedures and courtroom advocacy. Essential for criminal lawyers and anyone navigating the new bail landscape.

Presenters

Mihal Greener, Barrister, Brian Bourke Chambers
Mihal appears in criminal and quasi-criminal matters across all jurisdictions and has extensive advocacy experience in indictable crime. She has appeared led and unled in the Court of Appeal (Ibrahim Abbas v The Queen [2020] VSCA 80, Johnson v The King [2022] VSCA 228), Supreme Court of Victoria and in County Court trials and regularly appears in committal hearings, indictable pleas and appeals. In 2022 Mihal was selected to participate in the VLA Trial Counsel Development Program. Mihal also advises and appears in applications for judicial review in the Supreme Court of Victoria (Grooters v Chief Commissioner of Police), compensation applications under the Sentencing Act 1991and Confiscation Act 1997 matters. Her strong regulatory practice includes advising and appearing in matters under the Protection of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986, Domestic Animals Act 1994, Planning and Environment Act 1987, Environment Protection Act 1970, Building Act 1993, Food Act 1984 and the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004. Mihal also accepts briefs to appear at inquests and for organisations and individuals in disciplinary matters. Prior to coming to the Bar Mihal was a Senior Lawyer at Emma Turnbull Lawyers where she had carriage of a range of complex criminal defence matters. Mihal holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Melbourne and a Bachelor of Arts with Honours (Political Science) from Monash University. Mihal read with Jason Gullaci SC and is a member of Brian Bourke Chambers.

Nick Jane, Partner, Stary Norton Halphen
Nick joined Stary Norton Halphen in 2015, having graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Monash University and a Juris Doctor from The University of Melbourne. Nick has completed internships in remote WA with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia, and in Texas with anti-death penalty law firm GRACE.

Sam Norton, Partner, Stary Norton Halphen
Sam is an accredited criminal law specialist and is ranked in the Doyle’s guide as a Preeminent Criminal Defence lawyer and a Leading Traffic and Drink Driving lawyer – the highest ranking categories available. He has extensive experience as an advocate having appeared in trials, plea hearings and bail applications in the Supreme and County Courts as well as innumerable matters in the Magistrates’ Court. Sam was admitted to practice in 2001, and obtained specialist accreditation in Criminal Law 2008. He is the Senior Vice President of Liberty Victoria and is a former Co-Chair of the Criminal Law Section of the Law Institute of Victoria (LIV). In 2015 he received a Service Award from the Law Institute in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the LIV and to the profession. Sam has also previously been a Volunteer at the Inner Melbourne Legal Service.