The Victorian Greens have opposed the Labor government's controversial Lawyer X Bill saying that it sets a dangerous precedent for police accountability.
The Bill capping the state government from paying damages over $1 million in regards to the Lawyer X scandal passed the Upper House today with support from crossbench MPs.
The Victorian Greens opposed the Bill saying that it undermines the legal right to litigation and sends a dangerous message to police that they can get away with misconduct.
The Greens said that the way to properly limit the millions of dollars the state pays on behalf of the police in compensation and legal fees was to establish a police ombudsman to hold police to higher standards of conduct, rather than seeking to limit the ongoing legal liabilities resulting from its rotten organisational culture.
As stated by Victorian Greens spokesperson for integrity, Dr Tim Read:
"Victoria Police are responsible for the Lawyer X scandal and after what we saw from police yesterday, today is not the day to be sending them the message that they can get away with misconduct.
"This is legislation that meddles with people's right to litigation and sets a dangerous precedent for police accountability.
"The Premier believes in more legal consequences for 12 year old children, than dirty and corrupt members of Victoria police.
"When it comes to serious misconduct, crimes, and corruption, Victoria Police are repeat offenders and it's costing taxpayers millions and millions of dollars.
"We need to establish a fully independent and well resourced police ombudsman to expose the organisational culture of corruption and misconduct that permeates Victoria Police, and costs taxpayers."
