Samara Laverty slams Natasha Fyles over response to knife crime questions

The grieving mother of an alleged murder victim says her son’s death should have been a ‘catalyst for change’ but Territorians are still ‘screaming for help’.

The grieving mother of slain bottleshop worker Declan Laverty has slammed Natasha Fyles, saying she minimised and downplayed her son’s death during Monday’s estimates hearings.

In a scathing and personal Facebook post aimed at the Chief Minister after her estimates grilling, Samara Laverty said her son’s death was a “catalyst for change that you refuse to admit needs to happen”.

The Cairns mum held nothing back as she voiced her anger with the Territory government.

“You don’t have to imagine how scared your son was when a knife was driven into his chest multiple times,” Ms Laverty said.

“You don’t have to try and work out how your son managed through the blood and pain and chaos to message you to tell you that he loves you.”

Ms Laverty said Territorians were “literally screaming for help” following a slew of high-profile violent incidents in recent months and repeated her calls for as yet unspecified bail reforms.

“Declan’s Law needs to happen so that all those other people who die, don’t need to die because of your bail laws,” she said.

“The buck stops with you … a 20-year-old who will never realise his dreams. Will never have a future.

“Our family who have lost so much and are still in shock from it all and you do this?”

Samara Laverty has voice her heartbreak over the death of her son, Declan Laverty. Picture: Brendan Radke

In response to Ms Laverty’s gutwrenching post, Ms Fyles said her heart was “broken for them, their family and friends”.

“In the wake of Declan’s passing we made significant changes to our bail laws,” she said.

“These new reforms include a new presumption against bail for violent offences involving a weapon including for co-offenders even if they do not possess the weapon themselves.

“These changes are for Declan and his family, so we want to get them right so we can ensure no other Territorian has to go through what his family is going through right now.”

But during an interview with Mix 104.9’s Katie Woolf, Ms Fyles would not be drawn on whether she believed the changes had been effective.

“What I can say … is police decide who gets bail,” she said.

“Police are best placed, because they’re highly trained, they understand the circumstances and they can restrict bail to anyone that they believe will be a threat to our community.”

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles the NT government was working to protect all Territorians. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro asked Ms Fyles during Monday’s estimates hearings whether her government was working to implement Declan’s Law.

In response, Ms Fyles said it was “very difficult” when one individual was singled out but said any new bail law changes introduced in next month’s sittings would be informed by a recent review.

“We acknowledge the pain for Declan’s family and his friends, and I have spoken to both of Declan’s parents,” she said.

“In terms of taking legislation and policy changes forward, we do that for all Territorians. “Absolutely Declan’s legacy will continue to live on and we consider his family and friends.

“There are many other Territorians who tragically (die) each year … it might be that they are a victim of crime, it might be that they are a victim of a workplace disaster.

“I urge the Leader of the Opposition to be very careful with her line of questioning because she is known as the one-trick pony on crime – every Territorian’s life matters.”

Opposition leader Lia Finocchiaro said she believed there would be no ‘Declan’s Law’ under Territory Labor. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Ms Finocchiaro later said in a press conference she doubted the government would work on introducing ‘Declan’s Law’ but would not be drawn on what that legislation should include.

“We’ve had thousands and thousands of Territorians rally on the steps of Parliament House, calling for Declan’s Law to be implemented,” she said.

“(It) would make sure that violent offenders should not be out on the street and a range of other measures to stamp out crimes, such as knife crime.

“Natasha Fyles was very noncommittal and certainly made it clear to me that there will be no Declan’s Law under a government she leads.”

Originally published as Samara Laverty slams Natasha Fyles over response to knife crime questions