Over the next two weeks I'm providing some personal comments and thoughts on parts (certainly not all) of The Honourable Justice Michael Lee's judgement where he was the presiding judge in the Lehrman v Network 10 Trial Judgement which he handed down on 15th April 2024.  These are MY thoughts and opinions on Justice LEE's judgement and not about what I think about Bruce Lehrman or Brittany Higgins per se – it’s about how His Honour saw it and the lengths he went to, to try and help us all understand it a little better.

Justice LEE has shown a deep understanding of the ‘humanness’ and complexities of human nature emotions, particularly regarding victims to a crime. He has shown fairness and transparency and has gone to great lengths to explain why he made the decisions he has. It showcases the depth of research and reference, particularly to case laws which assisted him in those decisions he made.  Bottom line is, alone, I feel he’s restored some faith in the community’s confidence in the judiciary

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‘Peter’ was a prison officer for 12 years and in that 12 years he saw a lot. 

Part 1 of a fascinating interview with a Prison Officer who has worked at every major prison here in Victoria. He wants to improve many aspects including prison officer training and training programs for prisoners.

An amazing insight

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We revisit some of our best episodes.

‘Peter’ was a prison officer for 12 years and in that 12 years he saw a lot. 

Part 1 of a fascinating interview with a Prison Officer who has worked at every major prison here in Victoria. He wants to improve many aspects including prison officer training and training programs for prisoners.

An amazing insight

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This week’s podcast is quite different. I talk with many partners of Police and today I have the pleasure of sharing with you 2 separate conversations I had with 2 women who give very different accounts of what it’s like being in/having been in, a relationship with a Police Officer. I need to point out as I often do, but I need to reiterate, these 2 women share their personal thoughts, feelings and experiences – it’s how they feel and their own personal opinions.     

Charlotte shares with us the torment she endured not only during their marriage but afterwards, the violence, the threats, and the ways in which she says, her partner used his knowledge of the justice system to intimidate and belittle her and ultimately remove her children from her due to what she describes as lies, untruths and false statements in court documents and to the authorities. She also doesn’t hold back with what she thinks of his colleagues who sided with her partner and intimidated and threatened her.  Charlotte isn’t her real name and we’ve changed her voice slightly to protect her and their children.

Then we have Michelle, who’s story is completely different. Michelle’s partner and father of their 4 children, joined the job with a belief he could help others not as fortunate as himself. Michelle noticed a change in her partner’s behavior from the very day he began at the Academy.  His 11yrs with Victoria Police resulted in substantial psychological injuries, to the point he’s been a patient in a psychiatric hospital and not just the once. Their relationship has survived, but it hanged the 2 of them and their kids as well – no one has come out unscathed.  Victoria Police broke him, and nearly broke his family too, but 12 years on, life has found new meaning for him, his wife & family. 

You all know how much I love and miss Victoria Police. but by now I think you’ll know & appreciate there are parts of Victoria Police I will not gloss over and pretend they don’t exist or happen – BECAUSE THEY DO.   The only way we can improve anything in our lives is by sharing the good and the bad and not pretending it’s a perfect world, when it isn’t.  My guests today both contacted me separately, but I felt it was a good opportunity to share that good and the bad. I’m hoping today’s podcast gives those out there who feel they are alone, some encouragement and realization they are NOT alone.

There are so many aspects to the lives my 2 guests with their respective partners which deserve more time than I can give them, but I wanted to give you a taste, an idea of their experiences in an educational, respectful, helpful way, albeit concise. We just address the tip of an iceberg with both my guests.

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This week’s podcast is dedicated to Di McDonald, who is launching Stalking Awareness Day Australia (SADA) on 24th May 2024. 

Di has been a guest of NFI a few times, and is a strong advocate for law reform regarding stalking legislation and Police response to reports of stalking. She’s lobbied MP’s, organisations & the media in her mission to raise awareness of the offence of Stalking. 

Di’s story is very powerful and has been featured on programs including Australian Story and Insight and 7 of her recommendations she submitted to the Victorian Law Reform Commission’s Stalking enquiry, were accepted. Di’s passion has arisen from somehow surviving a stalker who’s offending was relentless and included humiliation, denigration, fear and terror, not only upon her, but her friends & family. What an incredible woman Di McDonald is. 

Congratulations on your pursuit for a safer community for us all.

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Sel is a trauma informed lawyer and understands the stresses clients experience when navigating the Family Court system as unfortunately, she has experienced this on a personal level, so she really DOES understand the impacts. Sel is committed to trying to resolve family law matters in a timely way without court proceedings where possible.

There’s so much I’d love to chat to Sel about today, because, in my podcast and policing world, I’ve heard too many stories of those treated poorly by the court system, particularly in family court matters where the common themes seem to include humiliation, intimidation and feeling demeaned by defence lawyers.

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Sel is a trauma informed lawyer and understands the stresses clients experience when navigating the Family Court system as unfortunately, she has experienced this on a personal level, so she really DOES understand the impacts. Sel is committed to trying to resolve family law matters in a timely way without court proceedings where possible.

There’s so much I’d love to chat to Sel about today, because, in my podcast and policing world, I’ve heard too many stories of those treated poorly by the court system, particularly in family court matters where the common themes seem to include humiliation, intimidation and feeling demeaned by defence lawyers.

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In 1990 Assistant Commissioner Ray Shuey called Chief Inspector Rob Bailey to his office, as Rob had already managed one force-wide project called TRIM (the tape recording of formal interviews) in the 80”s

Rob was asked to select a group of selected people to investigate the potential to introduce Computer Aided Dispatch to the Victoria Police.

Ultimately in 1996 Rob decommissioned D24 at Russell Street and a combined EMS was implemented at the Police Centre (in what was a car park) and at Tally Ho at Burwood.

Rob was initially the Project Manager and at the end the project, after 6 years, was co-ordinator for the estimated cost of around $360m project;

Rob talks about the great team & environment which was created & shares some stories about the evolution including the fact;

·     He was offered a bribe

·     he WITNESSED CORRUPTION

·     the difficulties in POLICE COMMAND NOT UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT;

·     THE EVALUATION PROCESS AND POLITICAL INTERFERENCE;

·     BUSINESS CONTINUITY PLANS AND INTERRUPTIONS

·     FALSE ACCUSATION OF INTERGRAPH CAUSING DEATHS

·     FALSE INFORMATION PROVIDED TO THE CORONER

·     DEATH OF A WOMAN AND BABY

·     PERJURY AT THE CORONERS COURT

·     CORRUPTION AT TALLY HO CENTRE

·     The waste of time & resources into a ROYAL COMMISSION

·     MISINFORMATION BY THE MEDIA, PARTICULARLY 3AW

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