Eastern Freeway tragedy: Stuart Schulze starts petition for new law to honour wife Lynette Taylor

The Victorian Attorney-General will speak with the husband of fallen policewoman Lynette Taylor about his push for new public decency laws.

Victoria’s Attorney-General will meet the widower of fallen policewoman Lynette Taylor about his push for tougher penalties against despicable acts.

Stuart Schulze — who the Herald Sun on Tuesday revealed wanted a new law created with up to 10 years’ jail — said he’d been overwhelmed with public support.

More than 1300 people have signed an online petition urging the Victorian parliament to back the move.

It was spurred by Porsche driver Richard Pusey who filmed Leading Senior Constable Taylor in her dying moments in the wake of the Eastern Freeway tragedy, which claimed the lives of four police.

He received three months’ jail for his actions, of which he served just two.

Mr Schulze, who himself served in the force for years, said he was grateful his call had been so well received.

“I am really pleased people are taking it seriously and are being involved,’’ he said.

“If they are willing to put their name on a piece of paper or email a letter to their local member of parliament I urge them to be part of the campaign. You’ve got to start somewhere.”

Stuart Schulze, whose wife Lynette was among four police killed in the Eastern Freeway tragedy. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor before her tragic death.

Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes said she was looking forward to speaking with Mr Schulze.

“Obviously the events of April last year were appalling. I could use other terms but I’ve been accused of using language unbecoming of an Attorney-General,” Ms Symes said.

“This of course is a very isolated incident, a very specific set of circumstances that are of course appalling, so I want to have those conversations.”

But Ms Symes said public decency laws were “complex” and “very, very rare”.

She said her government had been looking into the matter, but any potential changes to legislation were not straightforward.

“The laws that go to reviews … are really about laws that affect everyday citizens and you have to prioritise those laws that really make a difference to people’s lives,” Ms Symes said.

“Crafting a law to respond to every issue that somebody in the community thinks is indecent, is incredibly complex.

“(Any move) would have to be thoroughly considered, obviously the community expectations around decency would be very difficult to define.

“I want to acknowledge that this case was unique, it did not meet community expectations, people were outraged, but how you create a law to fix that problem is complex.”

Mr Schulze – who served in the force for decades – is lobbying politicians to create a law of outraging public decency under the Crimes Act with a punishment of up to 10 years’ jail.

Pusey recorded Leading Senior Constable Taylor and was heard saying: “There you go, amazing, absolutely amazing. All I wanted to do was go home and have some sushi and now you f---ed my f---ing car.”

Mr Schulze said he was taking up the fight for new legislation so others don’t feel let down by the court system.

At present, the offence only exists under common law with no specified penalty.

“This is not about him,’’ Mr Schulze said. “He is inconsequential really. The court has decided that’s what he will get as punishment. I’m looking at a law being enacted that will control this type of activity in the future. That is what I want. That is my aim.

“I’d resolved myself that I wasn’t going to let this slide. I was going to speak out about it. If the judge isn’t going to do anything about it we need the parliament to do something.”

Mr Schulze is urging Victorians to sign an online petition backing his push for reform.

He said the law hadn’t kept pace with the ease with which repulsive content could be recorded and shared, as shown through the Christchurch mosque shootings.

Richard Pusey, the driver of a Porsche the police pulled over for speeding, filmed the aftermath of the crash with disgusting commentary. Picture: AAP

“With the advent of smartphones two clicks can launch anything anywhere with no filters and with it can go our own humanity and decency,’’ Mr Schulze said.

“There was plenty of publicity about the outrage the community felt about what happened (on the Eastern Freeway) 12 months ago.

“I think it’s just appropriate it be recognised and there be appropriate laws and punishments available to fit that outrage the community feels.”

Pusey was the first person in Victoria since 1963 to be convicted of outraging public decency.

Just six cases were recorded in Australia between 1899 and 1978 with all related to offenders exposing themselves.

“I’m not out to re-try him. I’m not out to re-sentence him,’’ Mr Schulze said.

“That’s by the by. That’s not what I’m looking for. I’m looking for a solution to the law that has been sentenced wrongly to be changed.

“We’re terribly disappointed and shattered that he didn’t get what we would consider an appropriate sentence. But that’s passed now. We can’t change that.

Lynette Taylor was a 31-year veteran of the force.

Lynette and her husband Stuart Schulze shared a love for sailing.

Lynette was a mum of two.

Lynette loved to travel.

“I don’t waste energy on emotions. It’s a terribly wasteful form of using your energy. I don’t generally get angry. I was angry at the court at the sentence. I think that’s fairly understandable. But I don’t waste energy on unnecessary emotions such as anger and stuff like that. It’s just too debilitating.

“My mind is for the court and the law and not about him. He is the reason. But it’s not about him. It’s about other people’s cases. I don’t want them to come away from the court system or a court environment where they feel let down.”

Pusey had been pulled over for speeding on April 22, 2020, when drugged truckie Mohinder Singh ploughed into Constable Taylor, Senior Cons­table Kevin King, Constable Josh Prestney and Constable Glen Humphris.

Pusey didn’t upload his footage to social media but showed it to a GP receptionist and two chemist staff soon after the collision.

The Director of Public Prosecutions won’t appeal Pusey’s 10-month jail sentence, which included eight months for reckless conduct endangering serious injury.

Mr Schulze said the County Court had no precedent for sentencing the outraging public decency charge and an OPP appeal was a missed opportunity to set an appropriate standard of punishment.