George Halvagis, the father of Mersina Halvagis, who 20 years ago was found brutally murdered in the Fawkner Cemetery, and Tony Fialides, whose Toorak jewellery shop was robbed at gunpoint twice in three months will be informing Victoria’s Liberal Nationals policy on the criminal justice system.
Both men will be joining forces with other victims of crime as part of a Victims of Crime Justice Reference Group and will play a major role in the policy the party will take to the Victorian state election in November 2018.
The reference group includes a number of victims of crime and former youth justice workers, a former senior police officer, a police chaplain, a Justice of the Peace, and a member of the legal community.
Speaking to Neos Kosmos, the two Greek Australians whose lives have been forever changed after their horrific experiences, stressed the need for tougher sentences and major changes to the judicial system adding that under the current system they believe the interests of the victims are overlooked in favour of those of the perpetrators.
“I think that the judiciary should start sentencing the criminals rather than the victims. I believe the judiciary is completely out of touch and it is too biased towards the perpetrators of crime now rather than the victim,” said Mr Fialides, who three months ago saw the young offenders who robbed his business walking out of the Children’s Court, having pleaded guilty, receive non-custodial youth supervision orders.
“There should be stricter penalties that is a definitely a change that should happen. And the bail system is not right. We hear on a daily basis about people who committed dozens of crimes and after they get out with bail they go back to commit more crimes. There is absolutely no question now that the whole system is in trouble and it needs an overhaul,” added Mr Fialides, pointing out that more measures of deterrence should be in place.
Mr Halvagis, who after his daughter’s brutal death dedicated his life to promoting changes to the criminal justice system, seconded Mr Fialides point of view adding that crime is on the rise in Victoria and the system is partly to blame.
“It has been 20 years since that horrible November,” said Mr Halvagis, “I did not choose to be in this position but since I am I want to make sure that those who live through similar tragedies get the justice they deserve. The system, I believe, is out of date. Young offenders get a slap on the wrist and that is not enough. There must be change.”
The tough-on-crime approach will be one of the signature policies Matthew Guy will take to the state election. While talking to the reference group last Thursday Mr Guy outlined his four-point plan stating that “making Victoria safe will be achieved through more police on the beat, the introduction of mandatory minimum sentencing for repeat violent offenders, tougher conditions for bail, and the principle that parole is a privilege not a right”.
Earlier this year the state government began implementation of all 37 recommendations in the bail system review by Supreme Court Justice Paul Coghlan after the January Bourke Street mall attack in Melbourne’s CBD, including the abolition of the right to bail for sexual and other violent offenders.