Thread by @ninafunnell

The Vic Govt spin doctors are in over-drive today.

On 14/10/20 @JillHennessyMP BOASTED in 2nd reading speech that the proposed restriction on naming deceased sexual assault victims would "enhance" the privacy of dead

NOW they are changing their story entirely... /1
#LetUsSpeak

They r now claiming they r working hard to fix a gag on naming deceased victims which they claim has ALWAYS been in place.

This is outright false (just look at the existing legislation...)

It is the Govt who are actively INSERTING the below into the legislation w this bill /2

This new section makes it explicit that a court order would be needed to name deceased victims... and it outlines what the steps would be. This is not law yet It is what THEY are PROPOSING.

/3

Now for anyone who can't believe that a Govt could spin THIS much... or for anyone who thinks Hennessy can't get it wrong... let me remind you that back in April when @ShereleMoody 1st raised issue of gag on living victims, Hennessy said there was no gag.... /4

In fact @JillHennessyMP actually went so far as to say that the gag-law on living victims actually "reduced barriers" for sexual assault survivors.... (See the screenshot in the above tweet) Oh and Hennessy didn't stop with the falsehoods there!! /5

On May 8, the deception from Government went one step further, when @JillHennessyMP put in writing to me that the gag-law SHE introduced in Feb - AND I QUOTE - "did not have the effect of prohibiting media outlets from identifying survivors. They have reduced barriers." /6

Of course NOW @JillHennessyMP has had to eat her own false words, and admit that YES, the law she introduced in Feb DOES gag living victims. And IS a problem. (Of course she hasn't actually apologised yet, for the law OR the lies back in April and May). /7

Of course other media, including @theage are playing along and regurgitating anything Jill says without actually fact-checking the legislation - which is a sad reflection of the state of the media today. Those of us who have READ the legislation ... /8

Can see very clearly that the Government either don't understand their own legislation when they pass it... OR... they will happily lie about what's in the existing legislation, hoping that no one will check.

Folks. We check & We keep receipts. /9

Of course other media, including @theage are playing along and regurgitating anything Jill says without actually fact-checking the legislation - which is a sad reflection of the state of the media today. Those of us who have READ the legislation ... /8

Can see very clearly that the Government either don't understand their own legislation when they pass it... OR... they will happily lie about what's in the existing legislation, hoping that no one will check.

Folks. We check & We keep receipts. /9

And we are not going to mindlessly reproduce press releases containing falsehoods. It's our job in the press to scrutinize. To read legislation. To consult with lawyers. And to the Government: you should be ashamed of these lies. / Fin