The Australian Government has signalled a drive to reform parole laws, including a ban on parole for violent offenders who have any links to extremism, after a deadly siege claimed by Isis (Islamic State).
Police shot dead gunman Yacqub Khayre, who they said had a long criminal history, on Monday night after he killed a man in an apartment block in Melbourne, Australia's second-largest city, and held a woman hostage for several hours.
Attorney-General George Brandis said it was clear that Khayre, 29, who was granted parole in November after being convicted over a violent home invasion, should never have been released from prison.
"I think the public are entitled to expect that people who present that level of danger to the public, and who have a terrorism background, there should be a presumption against bail or parole except in a very clear case," Brandis told ABC radio yesterday.
Brandis and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull both launched stinging criticism of state governments, which are responsible forparole laws, following the Melbourne attack.