The government of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) has announced plans to review a policy that permits serious offenders to apply for transitional release from the Alexander Maconochie Centre. This decision follows sustained pressure from the family of murder victim Julie Tattersall, whose sister, Belinda Siataga, raised concerns about the implications of such policies for victim safety.
Marisa Paterson, the ACT Minister for Corrections, confirmed that a comprehensive review of the transitional release policy will take place in early 2026. The review is particularly significant in light of the case of Scott McDougall, who is serving two life sentences for the brutal murders of Tattersall and Struan Bolas in 2008, as well as an additional five-year sentence for arson related to the destruction of evidence.
The transitional release program, located outside the correctional facility in Hume, allows eligible offenders to reintegrate into the community under supervision. Offenders can apply for short-term leave for various constructive purposes, such as attending educational courses or work experience. However, the program has faced criticism, especially after McDougall’s application for transitional release in July 2025 stirred outrage among victims’ families and community members.
Following this backlash, the ACT government rejected McDougall’s application and subsequently amended the transitional release policy. The changes make it more difficult for life-sentenced prisoners, particularly those without a specified non-parole period, to apply for transitional release. According to Minister Paterson’s letter, offenders can only apply for such release if they have a determined release date.
The review led by ACT Corrective Services will involve consultations with stakeholders, including the Victims of Crime Commissioner. Victims Support ACT is expected to contact registered victims for their input during the review process. The aim, as stated in the minister’s letter, is to enhance the program while ensuring it remains victim-centred.
Siataga has been vocal about the need for greater accountability within the ACT government, particularly regarding victim safety. Documents obtained through freedom of information requests revealed that McDougall’s security classification was downgraded to “minimum” in December 2024. Victim families were only informed of this change seven months later when McDougall applied for the transitional release program.
In her correspondence, Minister Paterson addressed the communication gaps between ACT Corrective Services and victim families. She noted that security classifications are frequently reviewed, which complicates the routine notification of victims about changes. While she acknowledged the concerns raised, she emphasized that it would not be operationally viable to notify victims of every change in security classification.
Siataga argued that even minor changes in an offender’s security classification can significantly impact a victim’s sense of safety and trust in the justice system. She expressed disbelief that a system that could notify victims in other jurisdictions could not do the same in the ACT, especially in a case as severe as McDougall’s, where he committed heinous acts leading to the deaths of two individuals.
As the review process unfolds, the government aims to balance the need for rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders with the rights and concerns of victims and their families. The outcome of this review could shape future policies surrounding transitional release and the treatment of serious offenders in the ACT.
