00:00In the blink of an eye, he was gone.
00:06These are the words Jen Edwards wanted to say in court to the driver who ran over her
00:10son Jason two years ago.
00:13But because the driver was convicted of driving without due care, the magistrate found the
00:18charge didn't directly relate to Jason Edwards' death.
00:21It meant the family wasn't able to read their victim impact statements in court.
00:27Everybody has a right to express their grief and to let the other side know their grief
00:34and their trauma that they're going through.
00:37I don't think it's very fair that someone can make that decision for you being the victim
00:45that he's left behind.
00:46The legal barrier the Edwards family faced caught the attention of an upper house politician.
00:52It's actually a loophole that we genuinely, I think as a parliament, didn't think existed.
00:58And I know that my discussions initially with the government were this never should have happened.
01:04Under current laws, magistrates decide if victims can give impact statements in court,
01:09but only when a person's suffering, injury or loss is a direct result of an offence.
01:14Connie Benares is now pushing for parliament to amend that, meaning families like the Edwards
01:19would have their say.
01:21Regardless of whether there is a direct connection with the commission of an offence, a family
01:29or a victim will be able to provide a victim impact statement to the court.
01:34Connie Benares says there's support from all sides of politics for her amendment to the
01:38Sentencing Act and it's expected to pass parliament this month.
01:43I think this is one of those days in parliament where we all come together and I suppose appreciate
01:49the real life impacts that our laws have on families.
01:53It's a change the Edwards family says Jason would be proud of.
01:57Good on you mum, he'd be screaming how fabulous he would be and he is, he is.
02:06A legacy leaving an impact for victims.
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