Wednesday, 1 April 2026

 Sonya KILKENNY (Carrum – Attorney-General, Minister for Planning) (14:28): The Allan Labor government is banning the use of so-called good-character references as a mitigating factor in sentencing. If you are guilty of a crime – any crime – you will no longer be able to rely on claims about your good character to reduce your sentence. Someone does not have good character if they are being sentenced for rape. Someone does not have good character if they are being sentenced for child sexual abuse. Victim-survivors should never have to sit in court and hear the person who harmed them described as a good person, a pillar of the community, someone of integrity or someone who made a one-off mistake. To hear those words at that moment compounds trauma, diminishes the harm done and undermines confidence in our justice system. Personal standing, professional status or community connections should never be seen to lessen the seriousness of offending. That is why under our changes courts will no longer consider evidence of good character as a mitigating factor in sentencing, and we are listening.

At a time when victim-survivors are asking to be heard, it is deeply concerning when anyone, especially someone seeking election to this place, chooses to vouch for the good character of someone convicted of some of the most serious offences, like the sexual assault of a child. Others may seek to excuse this or cover it up; this Labor government will not. We are focused on changes that make life safer and fairer for all Victorians and that centre victim-survivors. On this side of the house, it is the Victorian people who are at the top of our ticket, and that is where they will stay.

Brad Rowswell: On a point of order, Speaker, I make available to the house a reference from Kelvin Thomson supporting Tony Mokbel, which may be helpful for the Attorney-General.

The SPEAKER: That is not a point of order, member for Sandringham.