Grimley to go again

WESTERN Victoria upper house MP Stuart Grimley has been announced at the lead candidate for Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party as he seeks a second term.

Along with Tania Maxwell in Northern Victoria Region, the freshman parliamentarian was one of two DHJP members elected to the state’s upper house at the 2018 election.

“It is a great privilege to once again be the Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party lead candidate in the Western Victoria Region,” Mr Grimley said.

“It has been an honour to be the member for Western Victoria for the last four years. I hope that the people of Western Victoria will continue to put their trust in me at the upcoming election.”

In 2016 Mr Grimley was named leader of the DHJP in Victoria and at the 2018 election he gained 4.4 per cent, or 20,277 individual ballots, in the primary vote.

That was short of the overall 76,750 needed for quota.

However, preferences flowed his way and Mr Grimley was elected to the fourth available seat in the Legislative Council for Western Victoria Region.

Since then the former police officer has made sentencing and victims of crime a focus of his parliamentary term.

A statement from Mr Grimley’s office listed more tasers for police, a victim’s legal service, and the setting up of a hooning reference group some of his major achievements.

“I have worked extremely hard for the last four years to ensure Western Victorians have had a voice in the parliament,” he said.

“I’d like to think that when Victorians needed someone to stand up for them, DHJP did, particularly during the pandemic and the ensuing legislation.

“Common sense is what we need in the parliament, and that’s what I pride myself on.”

Party namesake and founder, Derryn Hinch, said returning Mr Grimley to the DHJP’s lead spot on the ballet was a “no-brainer”.

“Stuart has been a long-time member and an effective state leader for DHJP,” Mr Hinch said.

“It was clearly a no-brainer for the party to re-endorse him for the upcoming State election. His advocacy and compassion for victims of crime and ability to understand the criminal process is second to none.”