'You could have prevented' fatal stabbing: mum's fight to create Bailey's Law

Since that fateful night in the kitchen of a house in Bombaderry, on the NSW South Coast, in December 2022, Mrs Micallef has battled anxiety, depression, PTSD, trauma-induced memory loss, nightmares and countless nights spent unable to sleep or waking up crying.

Even talking about Bailey and her fight for justice often brings tears to her eyes, as does walking into Bailey's room which remains untouched - the walls covered with reminders of a life ended far too soon.

But the one thing keeping her going is fighting to change laws and systems that might save lives, despite being too late to protect Bailey who was just 18 when he was fatally wounded.

At the time of the stabbing Saliba was on house arrest, with the court imposing an intensive corrections order (ICO) after he was convicted of robbing a supermarket and threatening a 14-year-old staffer with a large knife.

The ICO's conditions included bans on consuming alcohol, a ban on possessing firearms and bans on taking drugs other than prescribed medications.

Yet the trial that found Saliba guilty of manslaughter heard a firearm was found at Saliba's home, where there was heavy drinking and drug use on regular occasions.

The hearing was presented with a drug and alcohol assessment in which Saliba said he was using ice, speed, MDMA, cocaine and heroin daily about the time of the stabbing, along with occasional uses of fentanyl, oxycontin, LSD, psychedelics, magic mushrooms, ketamine, cannabis, GHB and more.

Mrs Micallef said the ICO conditions also required 20-year-old Saliba to reside with at least one parent, yet both parents spent much of the year living in Bali where they ran a tattoo business.

They were in Bali on the night Bailey died.

With all the court-ordered conditions imposed on Saliba, Mrs Micallef said she felt Bailey would be safe spending time with his cousin, but it was only after her precious boy's death that she found Corrective Services only ever went to the door, and never set foot inside the home to check if the conditions were being met.

During a recent meeting with NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley and Correction Minister Anoulack Chantivong she held the government and Corrective Services partly responsible for her son's death.

"I said if you had've done that you would have seen he had a marijuana set-up in his garage, you would have seen a large amount of cash on his bench, you would have seen the knife that killed my son that lived on his bedside table, you would possibly have seen a gun - these are all the things that you could've stopped," Mrs Micallef told the politicians.

Saliba killed Bailey, "but you guys are responsible, you could have prevented it. I'm giving you a chance to fix it, redeem yourselves, make sure no other parent has to go through this," she told the meeting.

While still struggling with the ongoing devastation of loss, Mrs Micallef is fighting for legal reforms that she hopes will become known as Bailey's Law.

The changes she wants include:

- Mandatory drug testing for people on bail, CCOs and ICOs.

- Weekly check-ins with the responsible or sureties person named in court orders, with travel exclusions.

- Regular social media monitoring.

- Random in-person compliance checks, with drug-detection dog searches and weapons detection searches of residences.

- Expansion of electronic ankle bracelet tracking.

"These changes are essential to restore public confidence, protect communities and ensure justice is truly served," Mrs Micallef said.

Supporting her call for change has been State Member for South Coast, Liza Butler, who organised meetings with the relevant ministers.

She said Carol and her husband Lawrence Micallef were among the first constituents she met with after being elected as the Member for South Coast, when Carol shared details of "a loss no parent should ever have to endure".

"In the face of unimaginable grief, Carol has shown extraordinary strength by channelling her pain into advocacy," Ms Butler said.

"I was proud to secure a meeting for Carol and Lawrence with the Attorney General, Michael Daley, and the Minister for Corrections, Anoulack Chanthivong, to discuss her proposal for Bailey's Law, aimed at reforming NSW bail laws.

"I commend Carol's courage and determination to create change that could protect other families from similar tragedy," Ms Butler said.

"Carol's proposal is now with the ministers and associated agencies for consideration, and I look forward to continuing to support Carol's efforts to make our community safer."

Mr Daley responded by saying, "Bailey's parents have endured a terrible loss, and I acknowledge their campaign to ensure no family has to experience the same suffering.

"NSW imposes stringent restrictions on the availability of intensive corrections orders for violent offenders. We have also doubled the maximum penalties for knife offences.

"The government will continue to look at ways the law can be strengthened to support victims of crime and their loved ones," Mr Daley said.

Mrs Micallef vowed to "keep fighting and fighting" until the changes get through, potentially working beside Jack's Law - changes that allow police to conduct random knife searches in designated public areas, which was brought about following the stabbing death of 17-year-old Jack Beasley in 2019.