Victoria moves to bar anonymity orders for convicted rapists after high-profile cases

Victoria’s Labor premier, Ben Carroll, declared that his government will amend the state’s Open Courts Act to prevent suppression orders from being used to protect convicted rapists, arguing the measures were meant for victim safety, not offender anonymity. Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny said the amendment will be pursued if the party is re-elected in November and will be guided by a review examining interim orders, their length and the justification for granting them, such as mental-health claims.

The move was prompted by the cases of entertainment manager Ralph Carr and Tom Silvagni, whose identities were kept secret for almost three years and 18 months respectively on psychiatric grounds. Critics, including former Coalition attorney-general Robert Clark, note the original 2013 law was intended to guard against threats of violence, not psychological distress. A round-table at the University of Melbourne, attended by lawyers, journalists and the shadow attorney-general James Newbury, discussed the need for reform, while the opposition pledged to end any misuse of such orders.