Ash Gordon’s sister urges Allan to meet with victims’ families over bail laws
The family of a Doncaster doctor allegedly murdered by teens in a botched home invasion says Jacinta Allan has refused to speak with them as the Premier dodged questions on why bail reforms have not gone further.
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Victims of crime have lashed a promised review of the state’s bail laws slamming the Allan government for repeatedly ignoring their concerns.
The proposed review, revealed by the Herald Sun, dominated the return to parliament with Jacinta Allan unable to detail how it would work.
New Opposition Leader Brad Battin used his first Question Time to grill the Premier about the review’s time frame and why the government hadn’t acted sooner.
But Ms Allan batted away questions by repeating prepared lines about a “need to do more” prompted by conversations she had over the summer.
Natalie Gordon, whose 33-year-old brother Ash Gordon was allegedly murdered by two teenage boys during a botched home invasion last year, said the review came too late to save her brother.
She called on Ms Allan to consult with victims’ families after her repeated requests to meet with the Premier to discuss concerns about the youth crime crisis were denied.
“I’ve been jumping up and down about these issues for a year now, and they’re only just starting to take notice now,” Ms Gordon said.
“She’s honestly not even taking notice of victims. She refuses to speak with us.
“We’ve asked on a number of occasions and were always told that it’s not something that she’s willing to do.”
Ms Gordon said the government’s lack of action had resulted in more deaths since her brother’s alleged murder.
Connor Mathiasson, 23, is out on bail after allegedly killing 24-year-old model Elise Hodder in October last year.
Ms Hodder’s father Michael Hodder lashed plans for a review, telling the Herald Sun that victims’ concerns about offenders being bailed often went ignored.
“The only thing I have of my daughter is her ashes at the moment and the offender is out on bail,” he said.
“In the criminal arena, you discard them (victims), and you only bring them in when you know the proverbial has hit the fan.
“The government’s in panic mode now with elections coming up, and victims do not get a say.”
In court last month, Mr Mathiasson had his bail conditions relaxed so he could continue working at a fish and chip shop.
In a heated press conference to kick off the first day of state parliament on Tuesday, Ms Allan dodged more than a dozen questions about why bail reforms introduced last year did not go further.
And she denied the review was prompted by diabolic polling on the eve of this weekend’s Werribee by-election.
Mr Battin said the state had already held “too many reviews”, criticising the review as a desperate attempt by Ms Allan to save her leadership.
“The problem with Jacinta Allan is she was only interested in one thing, that’s protecting her own job,” Mr Battin said.
“People have been killed by people who are on bail, and now we’re seeing a reaction from the government when they get bad polls.
Mr Battin said a Coalition government would reverse changes made in 2023 but did not outline his bail policy in detail.
Human Rights Law Centre Director of First Nations Justice, Maggie Munn, slammed the suggestion of tougher bail laws.
“Children belong in our communities, not locked up in a prison cell,” she said.
“The Allan government has today flagged bringing back bail laws which were a labelled a “complete and unmitigated disaster” and led to Veronica Marie Nelson, a strong Gunditjmara, Dja Dja Wurrung, Wiradjuri and Yorta Yorta woman dying in custody.
“This is another step backwards and directly contravenes the recommendations from the Yoorrook Justice Commission, the 2022 Parliamentary Inquiry, and the Coronial Inquest into Veronica Nelson’s death, all of which recommended urgent and widespread reform to bail laws which were found to be unjust, punitive and entrenched disadvantage.
“Instead of buckling to fearmongering by the Liberal Opposition, the Allan government should implement Poccum’s Law, developed by the family of Veronica Nelson and endorsed by over 70 community, human rights and legal organisations, which will make Victoria’s bail laws safer and fairer for every person in Victoria.”
Originally published as Ash Gordon’s sister urges Allan to meet with victims’ families over bail laws
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