No body no parole bill introduced into parliament

Shadow Minister for Community Safety, Corrections and Police, Edward O’Donohue

Background information

The Victorian Coalition has unveiled proposed new laws that would prevent convicted killers from receiving parole if they refuse to reveal the location of the body of the victims.

Shadow Minister for Community Safety, Corrections and Police Edward O’Donohue today introduced a Private Member’s Bill into the Legislative Council on behalf of the Coalition to implement the change.

Under the Corrections Amendment (No body, no parole) Bill 2016, a person convicted of murder who refuses to provide police with the location of the body of their victim will be unable to qualify for early parole.

Quotes attributable to Shadow Minister for Community Safety, Corrections and Police, Edward O’Donohue

Families have a right to bury their loved ones and they should decide the resting place, not convicted killers.

The Liberal Nationals Coalition believes that the rights of victims and their loved ones should be at the heart of the justice system and that criminals should be held to account for their crimes.

Families have a right to gain closure after the tragic loss of a loved one.

That is why Matthew Guy announced last year that we will legislate so that any convicted murderer who has not previously disclosed the location of the body of their victim, or who has otherwise withheld critical information, would be ineligible for parole until they did so.

The question is now whether Daniel Andrews will support this important strengthening of the parole system in the interests of victims and the community.

Media contact:        John Deller on 0400 496 596            john.deller@opposition.vic.gov.au