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New reforms to keep Victoria’s most violent criminals behind bars
Victorian serial killer Paul Denyer will remain behind bars for life thanks to new reforms that would prohibit the state’s most “serious and violent criminals” from ever putting the community at risk again.
Naomi Neilson
Denyer, who murdered three young women in Frankston in 1993, was denied parole in May following a campaign by his victim’s families and members of the Australian public to keep him locked up.
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Now, new laws introduced by the Victorian government and Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes ensure he can never apply for parole again.
“The family and friends of Natalie Russell, Debbie Fream and Elizabeth Stevens continue to suffer and grieve,” Ms Symes said.
“These changes can’t heal their pain, but they can provide the certainty he won’t hurt another woman again.”
The decision to name Denyer in the legislation is a backflip on the government’s original decision to keep him out of the wording.
The change came after the Solicitor-General found that the legislation reforms would hold up in court if it is ever tested.
It is now worded in the same terms that were used to keep Julian Knight, the Hoddle Street killer who murdered seven and injured 19 in a mass shooting, and Russell Street bomber Craig Minogue in jail.
It also applies to other prisoners who are convicted of murder, killing children and serious sexual offences and is aimed to spare victims and their loved ones from the pain of repeatedly reliving their trauma.
The adult parole board will now have the power to declare restricted prisoners, meaning they are unable to apply for release for between five and 10 years after serving the non-parole period.
Prisoners serving a life sentence will also be restricted from reapplying if their first application is rejected.
Minister for Corrections Enver Erdogan said: “Parole is not a right.
“People who commit unimaginable crimes belong behind bars – not back on our streets.
“We’ve listened to victims and their families who have been forced to relive their trauma through a perpetrator’s parole application.
“They deserve certainty – and they deserve better.”
