Serial killers such as Paul Denyer will soon be unable to re-apply for parole for an extended period under sweeping changes to Victoria’s parole system.
Premier Daniel Andrews said work would begin to introduce “minimum periods” of time between parole applications along with introducing rules to ensure prisoners take up “meaningful” rehabilitation programs.
In 1993, Denyer, now 51, was sentenced to three life sentences after pleading guilty to the murders of Russell, Elizabeth Stevens, 18, and 22-year-old mother Deborah Fream.
Denyer was sentenced to life in prison without parole, but this was later appealed and reduced to a non-parole period of 30 years, meaning he was eligible for release last month. That bid was rejected.
Andrews said the reforms would ensure those who are granted parole had completed “meaningful” change.
“If you are unwilling to be involved in those rehabilitation programs, then you might get one crack at parole and that’s it. You don’t don’t get any more,” he said.
“I’m not talking about, you might attend a counselling session.
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“It needs to be a proper genuine effort to change because that change is directly relevant to your ongoing risk to the safety of the Victorian community.
“This is not about making changes for one person. It’s about making changes that are enduring and will be relevant to a larger group of people.”
The changes would be specifically targeted to those found guilty of murder or multiple murders. along with serious offending.
There has been no timeline revealed about when the changes could come into effect.
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