Father of murdered Courtney Herron runs for parliament

Hamka family’s victim advocate John Herron and father of the late Courtney speaks to media during a press conference. Photo: AAP/James Ross

The father of Greek Australian Courtney Herron, who was beaten to death with a tree branch in a Melbourne park back in 2019 has made a statement that he plans to stand for federal parliament to reform laws on her behalf.

Mr Herron will be joining the Liberal Democrats as a candidate for the Victorian seat of McEwen prompted both by his father’s death and other women’s tragic predicaments he has been advocating for.

A lawyer and Navy veteran, said that such brutal crimes have made him want to stand up against violence towards women, urging all men to do the same.

“I’m nervous and scared about running in this election, but this is nothing compared to the terror Courtney would have felt in her last moments, or that of other women in those circumstances,” he told the media. “In her name, I’m running for office.”

Adding that “I know that law and order, specifically criminal, is handled by the states, but there needs to be national attention. There needs to be law reform in those areas to assist victims and survivors – it is long overdue and vital,” he stressed that “people like Brittany Higgins and Grace Tame have been doing the hard yards, but men need to take a stand as well and say that this is not acceptable”.

Coffin bearers carry Courtney Herrons casket out of the St Dimitros Greek Orthodox Church in Moonee Ponds, Melbourne back in June 2019. Photo: AAP/James Ross

In addition to running for office, Mr Herron is suing the Victorian government, claiming his daughter’s killer Henry Hammond should never have been releasedas he had already been in breach of a community corrections order when murdered Courtney Herron.

For Mr Herron, this move is not a career stunt but the taking on of a life mission as a father and lawyer but also as a very active member of the Macedon Ranges community.

Mr Herron owns three legal offices in the electorate and volunteers at the St Kilda Legal Service offering his time and knowledge to women in crisis. It is those women and their families that have urged him to run for federal parliament and become their voice.

“They want someone to stand up and speak for them. They feel they have no voice at all,” he said.

“Good people that normally wouldn’t consider politics are now rising because they feel the need to. I am responding to a large number of requests for some positive change to occur at federal level.”

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