Tuesday, 26 November 2024

Ashley Gordon

Martin CAMERON (Morwell) (12:55): It has been nearly a year since Dr Ashley Gordon was tragically killed during a home invasion. Dr Ash, as he was affectionately known, was the apple of Catherine and Glen’s eye and beloved brother to Tammy, Kerrie, Brad and Natalie. He was a pillar of the Box Hill community and had earned a reputation as a doctor who truly cared for his patients.

Remarkably, even though Ash had died just 10 weeks earlier and the Gordons were still understandably grieving, their minds had already turned to ensuring his death was not in vain. In April the Gordons asked me to sponsor a petition in Ash’s memory, and I was honoured to support their calls for the government to take decisive action to address the youth crime crisis. The Gordons have poured themselves into this petition over the last six months and have done work that is nothing short of incredible. Suffice to say this work has already gone a long way to ensuring no family has to suffer like they have. The government has scrapped plans to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 14. It is now a crime to commit an offence while on bail, and police have been given extra stop-and-search powers in certain contexts. But there is more work to do. The government must increase police stop-and-search powers.

To Catherine, Glen, Natalie and Tammy, who are here today, you have already achieved great change, and I know Ash would be immensely proud. To the Premier and Labor government, we all have a duty of care as members of Parliament.