Victorians who have carried the unfair burden of a minor historical offence will have a better chance to turn their lives around, thanks to new laws passed by Parliament today.

The Spent Convictions Bill 2020 removes the barriers faced by those who previously committed an offence but have since proven that they are able to rehabilitate and be active members of the community.

People will no longer struggle to get a job, find a home, or undertake volunteer work because of old criminal records. This unjust reality has damaged too many lives for far too long – but that changes today.

The reform will serve to protect people from the discrimination and stigma that can come with historical convictions – but this does not mean their criminal record will be “wiped”.

Police and courts will continue to have full access to criminal history information and complete records will still be released when required for certain employers and third parties to make necessary risk assessments.

Convictions for eligible minor offences will become “spent” and no longer show up in a police check after ten years, or five years for a juvenile conviction, if the person does not re-offend during that time. The scheme also makes discrimination on the basis of a spent conviction unlawful.

Some convictions will only be eligible to become spent by application to the Magistrates’ Court and only after a magistrate has carefully considered a range of factors, including rehabilitation and any risk to public safety.

These changes will benefit some of the most vulnerable members of our community who are disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system, such as Aboriginal Victorians and young people.

By breaking down the barriers created by minor convictions, the Bill will create better access to employment, education, and housing for Aboriginal Victorians.

The Andrews Labor Government worked with the Aboriginal community, justice sector, law enforcement and victims’ representatives to develop the new legislation.