Rita Panahi: Daniel Andrews’ unfettered powers making all Victorians suffer

Only a uniquely dominant politician would effectively side with a serial killer instead of the victim’s families. Victoria’s Premier now clearly sees himself as bulletproof.

Forget calling the Victorian Premier “Teflon Dan”, his recent antics make it clear that Dan Andrews sees himself as bulletproof. Only a uniquely dominant politician would effectively side with a serial killer, rather than the victim’s families, even after the story was splashed on the front page of Australia’s highest selling newspaper.

That’s what happens when you have complete control of your party, most of the state, and happen to be blessed with a hopelessly inept opposition bereft of principle, policy and backbone.

This week Labor teamed up with their like-minded comrades in the Greens and the Legalise Cannabis Party to defeat a bill that would’ve seen sadistic serial killer Paul Denyer jailed for life.

Frankston serial killer Paul Denyer.

Now, his victims’ loved ones will go through the torture of this evil monster seeking parole over and over again after he became eligible for release last month. Put to one side the absurdity of a “justice system” that gives a 30-year minimum to a man who mercilessly slaughtered three young women, Natalie Russell, 17, Elizabeth Stevens, 18, and Debbie Fream, 22, and consider the Premier’s decision to direct his party to reject the Corrections Amendment (Parole) Bill 2023 that would see Denyer die in prison. The measure is not unprecedented, given similar legislation has been used to keep other killers Julian Knight and Craig Minogue behind bars for life.

Brian and Carmel Russell, parents of Natalie Russell. Picture: Wayne Taylor

The decision has devastated the victims’ friends and family who released a joint statement: “Today has been one of the worst days of our life since Denyer was granted a parole application. The government has made comments that today was rushed but that is not true. We have been fighting since 2021 to keep the public safe from Denyer and they only started speaking to us properly last week. We have not been granted peace today. We walk away with no closure and still no idea when we will have any.”

Premier Andrews has again made noises about caring about this issue and on Thursday vowed to have a meeting with the family and friends of Denyer’s victims. But he would have known perfectly well what impact his decision would have on people who have suffered for decades.

Labor’s decision to block this bill was boneheaded and ideological. They could not allow an opposition bill to pass even if the end result was to keep an oxygen-thieving serial killer behind bars for life.