Laura Hinks restraining order bid naming King Charles, NT ministers ‘without merit’, court rules

A Territory woman has filed a restraining order against two NT government ministers on behalf of a woman accused of kidnapping her own five-year-old daughter. Read how the court ruled.

Lee-anne Lacey claimed King Charles III ‘murdered Aboriginal/Indigenous (sic) and stole our land’.

A Territory woman who tried to take out restraining orders against government ministers and King Charles III on behalf of herself and a woman accused of kidnapping her own daughter has had her application rejected.

Lee-anne Lacey applied for a personal violence restraining order in the Darwin Local Court against Police Minister, Kate Worden, and Attorney-General, Chansey Paech, on behalf of Laura Hinks, who faced court last month over the alleged kidnapping of her young daughter, Grace Hughes, in August.

In her evidence, Ms Lacey alleged Ms Worden’s agents had “mentally and physically assaulted” her.

She also claimed Mr Paech’s “policies and law legislation has affected the life of Laura Hinks and her children that has put her children in a dangerous position”.

But in summarily dismissing the application last month, Judge Ben O’Loughlin said there was no evidence either minister had or would commit a personal violence offence against Ms Lacey.

Laura Adele Hinks has had her application rejected. Picture: Floss Adams

“Although the applicant has taken an interest in this other proceeding, and Ms Laura Hinks has been subject to an arrest, there is no evidence suggesting the minister has committed or is likely to commit a personal violence offence against Ms Hinks,” he said.

In requesting protection from King Charles, Ms Lacey had claimed His Majesty had “murdered Aboriginal/Indigenous (sic) and stole our land” along with similar allegations against NT Administrator Vicki O’Halloran.

But Mr O’Loughlin said those allegations were not evidence of any personal violence offence.

“Even if these historical allegations against the Anglican Church were made out, it would not be a basis to conclude that the current head of that church has committed, (or) is likely to commit, a personal violence offence against the applicant,” he said.

The judge ruled Ms Lacey’s arguments, focusing on “issues relating to the Constitution, the applicant’s views on the validity of NT laws, the alleged lack of jurisdiction of this court, and the quality of the mental health treatment she received in the NT and ACT” were “without merit”.

“The applicant has failed to identify one personal violence offence that has been committed by any of the named defendants,” he said.

“There is nothing in the evidence to suggest that such an act has been committed or is likely to be committed by any one of the defendants.

“I find the applications are clearly untenable and cannot possibly succeed.”

Originally published as Laura Hinks restraining order bid naming King Charles, NT ministers ‘without merit’, court rules