‘Yes it’s true’: Derryn Hinch confirms his plan to run in November state election
Derryn Hinch has confirmed he will run for Victorian parliament in the state election, revealing a key issue he’ll campaign for.
State Election
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Media personality Derryn Hinch will run for Victorian parliament in the November state election.
The former senator, who established Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party, has officially announced his intention to join state politics later this year.
It is understood Mr Hinch, who failed to return to the federal Senate in last month’s election, will target the Victorian upper house.
He posted on social media on Tuesday night, confirming rumours.
Victorian Justice Party leader Stuart Grimley said on Wednesday morning Mr Hinch’s decision was “great news for our party and for the people of Victoria”.
“Hinch has never been a man to back down from what he believes in, and if elected, he will add another strong voice to the Victorian Parliament,” Mr Grimley said in a statement to the Herald Sun.
“There has never been a better time for Hinch to join the parliament.
“We are in the midst of a political revolution, as voters turn away from major party politicians who talk the talk, but don’t walk the walk.
“Hinch’s track record and his courage of his convictions, have seen him serve time in jail, be kept under house arrest and become an Australian Senator in 2016.”
Mr Grimley said Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party — which currently has two seats in Victoria’s upper house — is not a “political machine”.
“We do not select candidates who seek to be career politicians,” he said.
“Just like Derryn, our candidates are people with life experience that want to bring common sense and fairness to our parliament and state.
“Our party will continue to fight for a fairer justice system, we will seek more support for victims of crime, we want to see harsher penalties for criminals convicted of serious crimes.”
Mr Grimley said it was a key goal of Mr Hinch’s to establish a Public Child Sex Offender Register.
He said Mr Hinch’s “extensive knowledge” of the Victorian parliament would allow him to “hit the ground running” if elected.
“(Justice Party colleague) Tania Maxwell and I meet with Derryn regularly to discuss legislation and party policy in the Victorian parliament,” he added.
Mr Hinch was sentenced to jail 30 years ago for naming for naming a paedophile priest.
In 2012, he was forced to wear an electronic bracelet and spent five months under house arrest for breaching suppression orders.
Two years later, he spent 50 days in jail for breaching court orders by publishing comments about the Jill Meagher case.
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