Premier Daniel Andrews announcing the Night Court. Credit:Richard Willingham Work has already started for the formal establishment of an out-of hours 'night court' so magistrates, rather than bail justices, can hear applications for serious, violent, matters when police oppose bail. "No expense will be spared to get this right," Mr Andrews said. Magistrates are already on call for warrants and Attorney-General Martin Pakula held talks with Chief Magistrate Peter Lauritsen over the weekend about changes to bail. Former Supreme Court judge Paul Coghlan has also been asked to provide urgent advice about bail reform, including being charged to put forward practical recommendations for legislative change by April 3.

Former Supreme Court judge Paul Coghlan has been asked to provide urgent advice. Credit:Craig Sillitoe Mr Pakula said the way in which magistrates and courts look at prior offending in consideration of bail will be part of the review. The future role of voluntary bail justices will be among Mr Coghlan's terms of reference. He will also explore whether different bail rules need to be established depending on the offence. "We are asking Paul Coghlan to look at this top to bottom, we do not want simply to have a piecemeal approach to the bail system," Mr Pakula said. Other terms of reference include:

How to balance protection of the community and the presumption of innocence

The appropriateness of current tests for exceptional circumstances, show cause and unacceptable risk

The conduct of bail applications out of hours, including the role of voluntary bail justices

Whether information available for consideration by decision-makers in the bail system is sufficient to properly consider and assess the risks that are posed by accused persons, including those with complex risks, needs and case histories Many in the community have expressed frustration that action on bail is only coming after a tragedy. Mr Andrews pointed out bail changes from both his and the previous Coalition governments but conceded it was clear more needed to be done. "What Friday showed us is that is not enough, and we need to go further. We need to do more to keep the community safe and to honour the memory of those who have paid such a high price," Mr Andrews said. "We are angry, we are frustrated, we are desperately sad."

Any tightening of bail eligibility will drive up the state's prison population. The number of prisoners in state custody has exploded in the past decade. Mr Andrews said he was prepared to increase funding to Corrections to keep up with demand. A new prison with capacity for 1300 prisoners, commissioned by the Napthine government in Melbourne's west, is due to open later this year. Outlining his own set of bail reform "principles", Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said it was time for action, not another review. The Coalition wants to extend the current presumption of remand for people charged with murder to other violent offences including rape, assault, manslaughter and car-jacking. Such changes could see a major spike in the number of people in custody, especially with tens of thousands of family violence cases.

"Enough is enough. The system needs fundamental reform - it doesn't need more and more lengthy reviews," Mr Guy said. "There are principles and changes we can make straight away that will make an immediate difference to community safety." The Coalition also want laws that remove the right of bail for anyone that breaches bail conditions, which would include discretionary powers for police. "Bail is a privilege, not a right," he said. Mr Guy acknowledged that this would increase the prison population but said there was capacity in the system.