Opposition bill to keep sadistic killer Paul Denyer behind bars for life defeated by two votes
Loved ones of Paul Denyer’s victims say they are devastated after Labor, the Greens and Legalise Cannabis MPs joined forces to block a move to keep the sadistic killer behind bars for life.
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A joint statement by family and friends of Paul Denyer’s victims said they were left devastated by the move to block a Bill that would have kept him behind bars for life.
“Today has been one of the worst days of our life since Denyer was granted a parole application,” they said.
“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.
“The government has given us nice promises but nothing else.
“They’ve said they care about how this impacts us, it’s now up to them to prove they meant that.”
Vikki Petraitis, a friend of Natalie Russell’s family, said the process had been “really distressing” for all involved.
“We sat in the gallery and we watched 19 people vote no,” she said.
“The stark reality is that even though they expressed that they wanted to help the families, they could have finished this today and they voted no, and that’s really distressing.”
Ms Petraitis said the government’s promise to implement broader reforms to parole appeared to have been rushed.
“I don’t know anything about politics, but they announced it yesterday and the Bill was being debated today, so it feels like they’re jumping in to get ahead of it,” she said.
“I don’t like to see politics being played when the safety of women is the price.”
She added that she wanted to believe the government’s promise that Denyer will never be free to walk the streets.
“I want to have confidence but the proof is in the pudding. So don’t tell us you’ll do it. Show it to us, and then we’ll believe,” she said.
“We hope they will have the parole reforms but how long will it take?
“We really hoped that today could put a line under this for the families.
“We go home tonight and we still have no resolution.
“This is really torturous. The toll this takes on the families is why we keep fighting.”
Friend of Natalie Russell, Karen, said the government had made the situation incredibly confusing for victims.
“It felt very kind of rushed. Nothing was very clear,” she said.
“None of us are politicians. You just have to be really clear in your communication with what your plans are, otherwise it’s really difficult to read between the lines.”
She said Wednesday’s verdict was disappointing but expected.
“Being in the session just looking down and seeing the people who are voting no, it’s pretty upsetting,” she said.
Liberal Democrat MP David Limbrick, who was in a relationship with Ms Russell at the time of her death, said while reform was a win, it had taken far too long.
“It is possible, I think, for them to come up with something that will fulfil what we wanted all along, which is to just make sure that he never harms another girl,” he said.
Opposition criminal justice reform spokesman Brad Battin gave a commitment to work with the government to pass legislation to protect Victorians.
“I’m happy to work with whoever it takes in government, I’m happy to work with any of the crossbenchers to ensure that the families behind me don’t feel like their time was wasted by coming into the parliament and making sure their voice was heard,” he said.
“Daniel Andrews, our cry to you now is to work with us, and we’ll work with you — no politics.”
Denyer bill defeated
2.50pm: Labor, the Greens and Legalise Cannabis MPs have joined forces to block a move to keep Paul Denyer behind bars for life.
Parliament’s upper house voted on a Bill that would have subjected Denyer to the same onerous parole restrictions that apply to just two other Victorians – Russell St bomber Craig Minogue and Hoddle St killer Julian Knight.
The opposition bill was defeated by two votes.
Denyer debate kicks off in parliament
2.40pm: A MP backing a law to keep sadistic killer Paul Denyer behind bars for life has told parliament the only way he should leave prison is “in a box”.
Former policeman, and now Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP Jeff Bourman, said while he appreciated the need for law and order, Denyer was an exception to the rule.
“Denyer was not a normal person,” Mr Bourman said.
“Bring him out in a box. There are some people that go beyond our rules.
“He should spend the rest of his days burning in hell … and if we can’t do that he should spend the rest of his days in prison.”
Earlier, David Limbrick, whose then 17-year-old girlfriend Natalie Russell was murdered by Denyer, gave an emotion charged speech in which he urged MPs to back the law.
The bill will go to a vote shortly.
Denyer’s fate looms
12pm: Debate on the Denyer bill has adjourned for question time.
The Greens have now formally indicated their opposition to the Bill, but have backed the government’s promise to overhaul parole laws.
Debate will continue later this afternoon ahead of an expected vote.
11.40am: Debate has started over a proposed law to keep sadistic killer Paul Denyer behind bars for life.
Upper house MPs are expected to vote on the Opposition Bill today, with the government, Greens and Legalise Cannabis MPs all opposed to the proposal.
It means the Bill won’t secure enough support to pass.
Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes, opening the debate, said the government didn’t agree with legislating against individuals, despite having done so in the case of Russell St bomber Craig Minogue and backing an identical law in respect to Hoddle St killer Julian Knight.
Ms Symes appeared to choke back tears as she spoke of her personal guarantee to work with victims’ families to overhaul Victoria’s parole process.
“We can get a good outcome here, I just don’t think this is the way to do it,” she said.
A vote is expected later this afternoon.
Concerns legislation is ‘rushed’
11.30am: Outside parliament on Wednesday, Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes urged the Coalition to hold off from bringing the Bill to a vote.
Ms Symes said the family of Denyer’s victims hadn’t met with Brad Battin, the opposition’s criminal justice reform spokesman, until Wednesday morning at the eleventh hour.
“I am concerned that we are having a debate today about a piece of legislation that I think is being rushed,” she said.
“I don’t think we should be debating a bill where a family has not had the opportunity to sit down with the sponsor of that bill about what it means for them.”
Ms Symes said she called Mr Battin and opposition leader John Pesutto on Wednesday morning to express her preference to not debate the Bill.
“Today’s debate, I think should be paused,” she said.
“I’m not going to tell the family that the opposition bill is wrong, and I’m right, but what I have told them that I think the government’s proposal is better and would give a better outcome for them and for more victims broadly.
“I know that family members are coming in (to parliament) today. We should use the opportunity to sit down and have further conversations with them.
“It’s an unknown world, politics, for a lot of people, so taking the time to explain the process is a better use of today’s time than politicians standing up talking about these victims when you can actually talk to them.”
Ms Symes said there were risks associated with creating one-man laws which would almost certainly lead to challenges in the High Court.
“What we do know is there will be a High Court challenge and what that means is that this matter will continue to be in the media, through the courts, time and time again,” she said.
Ms Symes said she was committed to continue meeting with the families of Denyer’s victims.
“I want to sit down with the family and do further consultation about what the parameters of my proposals look like, how it applies to their situations and how it gives them comfort that Paul Denyer could not get parole unless he’s right at the end of his life,” she explained.
“I think we can achieve that through a broader suite of reforms that can give comfort to broader families not just those victims of Paul Denyer.
“There (is) more than one murderer with a life sentence in a prison.”
State government weighs up position
The Andrews government was on Tuesday night weighing up whether to order MPs to vote against a law which would keep sadistic killer Paul Denyer behind bars for life, or block the vote altogether.
It comes as the father of schoolgirl victim Natalie Russell accused Premier Daniel Andrews of “childish bloody politics” over the government’s refusal to support the law.
The Bill – which would restrict Denyer from making any future parole applications unless he is at risk of death – is set to be debated in the Upper House on Wednesday.
Despite it being doomed to fail, the Opposition wants the Bill voted on and says it will show if MPs are on the side of Denyer or his victims.
It will need the support of seven crossbench MPs to pass, but only six have publicly declared their backing for the law while the Greens and Legalise Cannabis MPs said they won’t support it.
Multiple sources said government MPs were considering Wednesday’s sitting with debate, meaning a vote would be put off until after the winter break at the earliest.
“It disgusts me,” Brian Russell told the Herald Sun over the government’s stance on the Bill.
“He’s playing childish bloody politics. It’s just so frustrating, you can’t see why anyone would not vote for the bill to keep Denyer behind bars.
“I’ve always had a lot of time for Dan, I’ve always thought he had the best interest for the people of Victoria but he’s lost me on this.
“All he has to do is vote for the bill. It’s a no-brainer for me.”
Mr Russell said while the notion of parole reform was “a step in the right direction”, it was “too little too late” for him and wife Carmel, who have both grown weary over the 30 year ordeal.
“The only thing we want is that he (Denyer) never gets out again,” Mr Russell said.
“It (parole reform) is too little, too late, A waste of time. Mr Andrews doesn’t want to make laws naming one person, but it’s only been done twice since they stopped hanging people. Why not do it once more. “Any serial killer should not get out of jail.”
Leader of the Opposition in the upper house, Georgie Crozier, said the issue was too important to delay a vote.
“This is an important Bill that the parliament will be debating. It’s up to the Government whether they allow to Bill to be voted on or not,” she said.
“The Government could immediately provide certainty to the loved ones of Denyer’s victims, and ensure he’s never released and no risk of hurting another woman.”
Mr Andrews has previously backed laws identical to the Denyer law to keep Hoddle St killer Julian Knight and Russell St bomber Craig Minogue in prison.
But he said on Tuesday he was against the introduction of further “one-man laws” which were at risk of being challenged in the High Court.
There are however fears both Knight and Minogue could use his comments to mount their own High Court challenge against laws targeting them.
Mr Andrews flagged the government was looking at changes to parole application laws and said an announcement was not far away.
These would be specifically targeted at serious offenders, particularly those found guilty of murder or multiple murders.
Among the reforms being considered are minimum periods between parole hearings, which would set a minimum amount of time such as five years before an unsuccessful offender could reapply.
Mr Andrews also said another key issue was whether to limit options for serious offenders who did not engage in efforts to rehabilitate themselves through programs in prison.
Friends of Denyer’s victims said they were blindsided by the Premier’s announcement.
“This isn’t what we wanted as there is still no guarantee Denyer cannot harm another woman. Our request is very clear but is still not being addressed,” Karen, a friend of Ms Russell, said.
“Is the Premier seriously suggesting Denyer can be rehabilitated?”
“Is the Premier willing to take personal responsibility if the government’s proposed changes mean Denyer has the possibility to get out and hurt another woman?”
Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes phoned victims on Tuesday to guarantee her personal support through the parole reform process.
However critics of the plan say Victoria has a proven track history of prisoners who have “played the system”.
They include serial rapist turned murderer Adrian Bayley who admitted he had “gone through the motions” of rehabilitation to secure early release.
Killer rapist Sean Price was also granted release in what Mr Andrews called “a catastrophic failing of the criminal justice system”.
In a last ditch bid by Liberal Democrat David Limbrick, who was dating Ms Russell at the time she was murdered, MPs have been urged to carefully consider their vote.
In an email to MPs this week Mr Limbrick asked MPs to consider the remarks of Denyer’s original sentencing judge Frank Vincent who said the killer was “not one of us” when he ordered he die behind bars.
“In order for you to make an informed decision on this bill, I urge you to read this document,” Mr Limbrick said.
“This is not easy reading and I warn you that it is distressing. Justice Vincent expertly outlined everything … after 30 years, his wisdom and conclusions remain correct.
“In what I believe to be a grave injustice, this decision was overturned on appeal on technical grounds the following year, and a non parole period of 30 years was set.
“There is no scenario I can imagine where he could peacefully walk among us. As Justice Vincent himself stated he is “not one of us”.”
Denyer was jailed for life in 1993 for the murders of Ms Russell, 17, Elizabeth Stevens, 18, and Debbie Fream, 22.
He was given a 30 year non parole period following a successful appeal.
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