Keep women safe from sexual predators. Introduce a #GrabAndDrag law.

The issue

My name is Emm, I’m a mum to three beautiful daughters, and I would do anything to keep them safe. Too often, I’ve watched on in horror as sexual predators walk free after ruining the lives of innocent women, due to legal loopholes and a broken system. That’s why I’m calling for the Victorian Government to introduce a “Grab and Drag” law.

When I created this petition, to start with I had one goal. That one goal was to bring justice for a nurse who was the victim of Jackson Williams’ shocking assault in a Melbourne laneway. Many of us could not believe he was found not guilty of intent to commit sexual assault, but he was. There wasn’t enough evidence to prove intent. It’s happened before.

Jackson Williams walked free, but I haven’t given up fighting. I realised that this had to be about the bigger picture, about women's safety. About a woman's right to not only feel safe but be safe.

Stuart Grimley of the Derryn Hinch Justice party has put forward a proposal for a new "Grab and Drag" offence which would fill the gap between Common Assualt and Sexual Assualt. One word is what failed in the presiding over this case: INTENT.

The Grab and Drag offence will make it easier for our Courts to prosecute those who commit these vile attacks on women. It will come with a maximum sentence of 15 years and it can't come soon enough.

Women will start to feel safer when one by one these predators are removed from our streets!!

This isn't a world that I feel comfortable raising my daughters in and I'm not alone. Mothers, fathers, even grandparents have commented that they worry about the safety of the women in their lives.

Please, sign and share this petition to keep women safe from sexual predators.

#GrabAndDragLaw

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Emm JonesPetition starter
Media enquiries
Victory
This petition made change with 114,035 supporters!

The issue

My name is Emm, I’m a mum to three beautiful daughters, and I would do anything to keep them safe. Too often, I’ve watched on in horror as sexual predators walk free after ruining the lives of innocent women, due to legal loopholes and a broken system. That’s why I’m calling for the Victorian Government to introduce a “Grab and Drag” law.

When I created this petition, to start with I had one goal. That one goal was to bring justice for a nurse who was the victim of Jackson Williams’ shocking assault in a Melbourne laneway. Many of us could not believe he was found not guilty of intent to commit sexual assault, but he was. There wasn’t enough evidence to prove intent. It’s happened before.

Jackson Williams walked free, but I haven’t given up fighting. I realised that this had to be about the bigger picture, about women's safety. About a woman's right to not only feel safe but be safe.

Stuart Grimley of the Derryn Hinch Justice party has put forward a proposal for a new "Grab and Drag" offence which would fill the gap between Common Assualt and Sexual Assualt. One word is what failed in the presiding over this case: INTENT.

The Grab and Drag offence will make it easier for our Courts to prosecute those who commit these vile attacks on women. It will come with a maximum sentence of 15 years and it can't come soon enough.

Women will start to feel safer when one by one these predators are removed from our streets!!

This isn't a world that I feel comfortable raising my daughters in and I'm not alone. Mothers, fathers, even grandparents have commented that they worry about the safety of the women in their lives.

Please, sign and share this petition to keep women safe from sexual predators.

#GrabAndDragLaw

avatar of the starter
Emm JonesPetition starter
Media enquiries

Victory

This petition made change with 114,035 supporters!

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The Decision Makers

Edward O'Donohue
Edward O'Donohue
Victorian Shadow Attorney-General
Responded
“Dear petition signers, Thank you for signing Emm Jones' petition to appeal the Jackson Williams sentence. This week, I met with Emm and heard her concerns. I support her call for the Director of Public Prosecutions to urgently consider appealing this manifestly inadequate sentence. Recently, I wrote to the Director of Public Prosecutions, Kerri Judd QC, and had this to say: "Concerned Victorians are alarmed and perplexed by the County Court sentencing decision this week in which the perpetrator of a serious assault on a woman in a Melbourne CBD laneway, Jackson Williams, walked free from court on a Community Corrections Order without the need for further jail time for his shocking offending. "This sentencing decision clearly does not meet community expectations nor does it provide the level of deterrence that the Victorian community is looking for in matters of serious assaults such as this. "I respectfully request your urgent consideration of lodging an appeal against this prima-facie manifestly inadequate sentence." Thank you again for supporting Emm and her petition. Regards, The Hon. Edward O'Donohue MLC Shadow Attorney-General”
Stuart Grimley
Stuart Grimley
Responded
“Dear petition signatories, Thank you for including your name and voice to this campaign which makes it known that it is never okay to abuse women, in any way, shape or form. Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party was formed on the basis of protecting the vulnerable. Whilst we’re usually talking about the safety of our children, we’ve unfortunately seen how women – especially in the city in recent times – have been assaulted and even brutally raped and murdered. And enough is enough! There’s no argument that this nurse should never have been subjected to the fear she was that night. Just like Derryn said at the time, “was he playing scrabble?” It was outrageous that he was found not guilty to intent to sexually assault. Our Party is founded on reform to the legal system so it can be reformed in more favour of suffering victims. This nurse will probably never walk alone again at night and this is something our legal system needs to take into account. Emm – the host of the petition – has done an amazing job in gathering support and I commend her hard work. That's why I've invited her to Victorian Parliament tomorrow to accept her petition. As a mother of daughters and as a nurse herself, Emm was rightfully disgusted at the judicial decision in the Williams case. I’m the father of a teenage daughter and like Emm, I want my kids to grow up in a place free from sexual assault and violence. Again, thank you for your support in signing this petition. I hope to meet with the Attorney-General and present her with your names to demonstrate that over 93,000 people are pleading for change. And I hope to make that happen. Stu”
Jaclyn Symes
Jaclyn Symes
Victorian Attorney General
Office Of Public Prosecutions Victoria
Office Of Public Prosecutions Victoria
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Petition created on 20 October 2020