The PANSW commends the Hon. Mark Latham MP for speaking in NSW Parliament about the bravery and advocacy of former NSW police officers Samantha and Laurence Barlow.
When the offender who violently attacked Samantha Barlow received parole late last year, the Barlows only found out about the parole hearing by accident via the media.
The Barlows’ campaigning, along with other key stakeholders, led to the NSW Government introducing the Victims Legislation Amendment (Victims Legislation Amendment (Victims Registers) Bill 2025.
Samantha only became aware of the victim's register prior to the perpetrator of her violent assault being considered for parole. The Bill will introduce a new requirement for agencies that administer the victims' register to proactively notify victims of certain serious offenders of their right to be on the register and access the benefits it offers – ensuring that victims who wish to be kept informed will be.
The MP said prior to reading a statement from the Barlows, that it was “was a lesson for the House not only on the issue and Bill before us but how the softness in the justice system from judges, magistrates and the parole board continues to endanger public safety.”
Watch the video here
Read the transcript here