Former Attorney General Greg Smith is threatening Libel action against Ray Hadley over comments made by Hadley on radio station 2GB.

Hadley slammed the controversial bail laws on air and said that the laws enacted by Greg Smith when he was Attorney, saying  quote Daily Telegraph Dec 17 2014 : "Mr Hadley slammed the controversial bail laws enacted by Mr Smith on his 2GB radio show, saying they contributed to the release on bail of slain terrorist Sheik Mon Haron Monis."

To clarify what has occurred here is the recent history of the Bail Act.

1978  against bail Bail Act: Presumption against bail for serious offences (eg Murder) Magistrates given more leeway to make own decisions.

2013 Bail Act Presumption aqainst bail removed. Bail can only be refused if there is an "unacceptable risk"

New Bail Act (Yet to be enacted - Jan 28, 2015)

If person is deemed an unacceptable risk they can't get bail. Bail to be reused for serious offences.


Now Greg Smith is bristling at Mr.Hadley's comments. Doth he protest too loud?.

Without hearing Hadley's comment(s), I can't make a valid judgement.

But, on the surface, I'd be inclined to go along with Hadley's assessment.

Bail laws (and sentences) for serious crimes do seem to be too lax, while
conversely bail for minor offences appears to be becoming harder to get
and sentences are more frequent and longer.

Also, maybe if we weren't so hell-bent on jailing people for minor 'crimes'
for which community-service orders would be more appropriate (I'm look-
ing at misdemeanour-type 'offenders' like minor drug dealers, shoplifters,
vandals/graffitists etc., and of course the mentally ill), then the cell-space
and the money might just be available to allow the real, serious offenders
to be kept there while awaiting trial, and for them to then actually remain
for their full term if found guilty.

Of course, no doubt I'll be howled down...

Everything I've seen over the years sums up to two things:

1. Nobody came to the Attorney's job with more supposed promise than Greg Smith

2. Not many turned out to be such disappointments so quickly.

bogarde73 wrote on Dec 17^th, 2014 at 1:49pm:

Everything I've seen over the years sums up to two things: 1. Nobody came to the Attorney's job with more supposed promise than Greg Smith 2. Not many turned out to be such disappointments so quickly.

I hope it goes to court, and Greg Smith's complicity in what transpired at the Lindl cafe is given wider exposure.

Needless to say Greg Smith won't take Ray Hadley to court, because the dirty linen that would get aired would all be his.

What an idiot.

red baron wrote on Dec 17^th, 2014 at 12:20pm:

Former Attorney General Greg Smith is threatening Libel action against Ray Hadley over comments made by Hadley on radio station 2GB. Hadley slammed the controversial bail laws on air and said that the laws enacted by Greg Smith when he was Attorney, saying  quote Daily Telegraph Dec 17 2014 : "Mr Hadley slammed the controversial bail laws enacted by Mr Smith on his 2GB radio show, saying they contributed to the release on bail of slain terrorist Sheik Mon Haron Monis." To clarify what has occurred here is the recent history of the Bail Act. 1978  against bail Bail Act: Presumption against bail for serious offences (eg Murder) Magistrates given more leeway to make own decisions. 2013 Bail Act Presumption aqainst bail removed. Bail can only be refused if there is an "unacceptable risk" New Bail Act (Yet to be enacted - Jan 28, 2015) If person is deemed an unacceptable risk they can't get bail. Bail to be reused for serious offences. Now Greg Smith is bristling at Mr.Hadley's comments. Doth he protest too loud?.

Notice how all of the pollies are running for cover and looking the other way !!

YES!

to all your questions Baron.

Greg Smith is an incompetent

& needs to face the music for his stupidity

Always thought that gutless pricks usually turn to litigation when the blowtorch is applied. Oh did I say Former Attorney General Greg Smith was a gutless prick? No I was just generalising. ;D

What about an on-air live debate, Greg... Ray?

I think Gregg Smith was last seen disappearing in a cloud of white smoke, perhaps heading for Oz.

Greg Smith thought it would be clever to dabble in New Age liberal-progressive touchy-feely ideas of jurisprudence.

He thought this would endear him with the Balmain basket-weavers and the North Shore doctors' wives.

What an ass.

I hope Abbott has him for breakfast.