A PROPOSAL to prevent Frankston serial killer Paul Denyer from ever applying for parole again has failed to gain the support of the state government.
Denyer is now eligible for parole after serving a 30-year sentence for the murders of Elizabeth Stevens, Deborah Fream, and Natalie Russell. He has had his first application for parole denied, but can still apply again.
Last week, the state opposition proposed a Bill to prevent Denyer from making further parole applications. It was not supported by the state government.
Shadow corrections minister Brad Battin said the proposed legislation would “insert provisions into the Corrections Act 1986, mirroring the current provisions that exist for Craig Minogue and Julian Knight.”
“Paul Denyer continues to be eligible to make parole applications despite having never displayed remorse for his crimes. Whilst we trust the Adult Parole Board to continue to make the right decisions, we stand with the families of Natalie Russell, Elizabeth Stevens and Debbie Fream, and believe they should not be forced to re-live their trauma every time a parole application is made,” Battin said.
In parliament last week, Battin asked police minister Anthony Carbines if he would “apologise to the families of the three female victims who have to relive the trauma every time Paul Denyer applies for parole because the government refuses to lock him up for life.”
Carbines defended the state government’s position, telling parliament he has faith in the Adult Parole Board to protect the community.
“Victims deserve the support and the respect and the comfort of all members of this place, and that is exactly what this government stands for,” Carbines said. “We also stand for making sure that independent bodies charged with their responsibilities are allowed to do that unfettered. They are doing that job effectively and have made the correct and right decisions that they have independently made. We support and respect them just as we do those who rely on the services that they provide.”
Frankston MP Paul Edbrooke did not respond to questions from The Times.