Victoria to ban suppression orders for rapists after Ralph Carr and Tom Silvagni convictions under new pledge

Premier Ben Carroll promises if re-elected to ‘close every loophole’ used by high-profile accused and convicted criminals to hide their identities in the courts Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The use of suppression orders by convicted rapists will be banned in Victoria, the premier, Ben Carroll, has announced, with his government committed to “closing every loophole” accused people “abuse and exploit” to hide their identities in the state’s courts. Carroll and the state’s attorney general, Sonya Kilkenny, made the commitment to amend the state’s Open Courts Act to limit the use of suppression orders if re-elected in November. “First and foremost, we are going to stop suppression orders being used to protect convicted rapists. Suppression orders were designed to protect victim-survivors, not convicted rapists,” Carroll told reporters. Kilkenny said further changes to the act would be guided by a review now under way. The review is examining the use of interim suppression orders, the length of suppression orders and the grounds on which suppression orders can be made, including mental health reasons.