Derryn Hinch drops by as Grimley opens office

TORQUAY is now home to the office of a state MP for the first time, with Member for Western Victoria Stuart Grimley officially opening his doors last week.

The Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party MP was joined by his party’s leader for the opening of the electoral office at 1/15 Pearl Street.

Mr Grimley said he and his staff had been settling into their office for about two weeks before the opening.

“When we’re not sitting in Parliament, we will be here in the electoral office, and when we’re not in the electoral office, we’ll be out travelling around, which we have been, to councils.

“It’s good advertising, it’s good for people in Torquay – this is the first time Torquay has ever had a state or federal office, which the Surf Coast Shire are very excited about as well.”

Mr Hinch said he was very impressed with the facilities, and endorsed the “out and about” approach.

“The one thing we’ve done, all of us, from day one – and Stuart and I have been together since 2016 – is get out in the country,” he said.

Mr Grimley said he had not had many visitors yet, but encouraged people to drop by and let him know about the local issues.

On the legislative front, Mr Grimley said the Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party would introduce a motion regarding the child offenders sex registry in August.

Mr Hinch said it was pleasing to see more than $30 million locked in towards measures against child sex offenders on a federal level, “which is why the party was started, why Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party ever got off the ground”.

“We’ve got two MPs in state Parliament, so we want to try to push to get Victoria to have a state (registry) first – and down the track, it’ll be superseded, we hope, by a federal one.”

Mr Grimley said he had received a positive response about the legislation from the Coalition, while a few of the crossbenches were “on the fence”.

“As for the government, I think they can be swayed.”