Community
12 July, 2026
Seven weeks to help turn Bailey’s tragedy into Bailey’s Law
With just seven weeks left to convince the NSW Parliament to act, a grieving mother is making one final plea to the public to help turn the loss of her only son into lasting law reform.
With just seven weeks left to convince the NSW Parliament to act, a grieving mother is making one final plea to the public to help turn the loss of her only son into lasting law reform.
Caroline Micallef from the Shoalhaven, launched Bailey’s Law after her 18-year-old son, Bailey Jones, was fatally stabbed on 9 December 2022 by Dominic Saliba while Saliba was serving an Intensive Correction Order (ICO) under home detention. Saliba, who was initially charged with murder, was later convicted of manslaughter.
The e-petition, sponsored in Parliament by South Coast MP Liza Butler, has already attracted almost 30,000 signatures and closes on 26 August.
In a message shared this week, Ms Micallef said the campaign was about preventing other families from experiencing the same tragedy.
“I truly believe that if stronger reforms, stricter compliance checks, and tougher monitoring had been in place, my son – and many others – could still be here today,” she said.
“What hurts even more is knowing the person responsible for taking my son’s life has the opportunity to apply for parole next year.
“That reality is devastating as a mother.
“To think that my beautiful son’s life could amount to so little in the eyes of the system is something I carry every single day.
“This is bigger than our family now. This is about protecting communities. This is about preventing repeat offenders from slipping through the cracks.
“We have come so far together, but we cannot stop now.
“For the next seven weeks, I am asking NSW to stand together and be part of Bailey’s Law.
“Let’s show Parliament that our voices matter. Let’s fight for safer communities.”
The petition calls on the NSW Government to reform Intensive Correction Orders (ICOs), bail conditions and community-based correction orders through measures known as Bailey’s Law.
Among the proposed reforms are random in-person compliance checks, stronger compliance requirements, stricter eligibility for violent and repeat offenders, increased supervision, electronic ankle bracelet monitoring with enforced exclusion zones, mandatory random drug and alcohol testing, social media monitoring to identify warning signs, random drug and weapons dog searches of residences, requirements for those responsible for people on ICOs to report travel, and stronger powers for courts to review orders.
Ms Micallef said although the petition has already reached the threshold required to be presented to the NSW Parliament, every additional signature will demonstrate the level of public support for the proposed reforms.
The e-petition remains open until 26 August and can be signed by NSW residents at:
If this story has raised issues for you or someone you know, support is available from Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636) or Lifeline (13 11 14). If there is an immediate risk to life, call Triple Zero (000).
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