Justice4BiddyPorter Petition Reaches 20,000 Signatures, Heads To NSW Parliament

When the Porters lost their daughter, Bridgette –  ‘Biddy’, four years ago in a brutal murder, they felt helpless and were overcome by grief. Today, they have a renewed hope for justice. 

In just six weeks, the Justice for Biddy Porter petition — initiated by the Porter family through Advocacy Australia and sponsored by Independent MP for Orange Philip Donato — has reached its goal of 20,000 signatures. 

The petition will now be presented by Donato, for debate on the floor of NSW Parliament.

Speaking of the outpouring of support from residents across NSW, Rebekah Porter said, “[the campaign has] given Biddy back her name, her precious face, her voice, and her identity which was erased four years ago to protect her killer.”

Failures Of State Agencies

The petition calls for Parliamentary Inquiries into the NSW Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) handling of Biddy Porter’s case, and the Mental Health Review Tribunal’s (MHRT) lack of transparency and accountability in their release processes. 

Additionally, it advocates for reform to the Department of Communities and Justice Victims’ Support Services (VSS) and a Coronial Inquest into the circumstances surrounding Biddy’s death.

Discussing his support for the petition, Donato said, “Enduring the loss of their daughter and knowing the horrific circumstances in which she died is traumatic enough for Biddy’s parents – the living victims of this heinous crime.”

“To then be faced with the apparent failures of state-based agencies and the unbalanced support between the offender and Biddy’s parents, I felt compelled to do whatever I could to assist them in seeking justice for their daughter and to help prevent other families from being let down by the same systems.”

Biddy’s Killer Found Guilty

In 2020, Biddy was just 10 years old when a young person she knew ended her life.  Biddy was an artist. She wrote poetry and stories. She loved animals and adventuring through the bush with her father Dominic, and her two older brothers. Full of energy and creativity, Biddy was up for any challenge.

Biddy was also brave and kind, with a passion to ‘fight the good fight’ and protect others unable to defend themselves. She wanted to be a journalist when she grew up. 

While Biddy’s killer was arrested shortly after her death and found guilty in 2021, they were not held criminally responsible due to their mental health circumstances. 

As a result, they are currently being treated at a forensic health facility governed by the MHRT. Their identity remains anonymous. 

Seeking Justice

Speaking with the ABC, Rebekah and Dominic Porter detailed the lack of support they received after Biddy’s death as well as the shortcomings of the DPP and MHRT. 

The Porters now suffer from PTSD and other mental health conditions. This trauma has compounded due to the limited options for counselling in regional NSW through VSS. They have also been unable to work since their daughter’s death. 

The Porters stated they were denied access to the brief of evidence and not permitted to read the full statement of agreed facts during the trial. 

A DPP spokesperson told the ABC that it was determined that due to the “highly distressing and extremely sensitive evidence” of the brief, it was not in the public’s interest to release it. The DPP also denied it had refused the Porters access to the agreed statement of facts and stated they previously offered and are still willing to meet with the Porters to read the statement. 

Biddy’s Killer Allowed Day Leave

In May 2023, the Porters discovered their daughter’s murderer had been allowed an escorted day of leave by the MHRT. They decided to take action.  In June they approached Advocacy Australia. 

According to Clare Collins, Chair of Advocacy Australia, Porter’s circumstances are not new. 

“Sadly, Biddy’s family’s circumstances are not unique. With a chasm of inequity between victims of heinous crimes and perpetrators, there’s something terribly wrong when NSW Government agencies with the responsibility to defend victims’ rights, fail to meet community expectations.”

The Parliamentary debate could happen as early as late September. 

Reflecting on the impact of the campaign, Porter shared, it was a journey that filled her heart “with both sorrow for the loss of my precious daughter” and “hope that through Biddy’s campaign we will reform a broken system.” 

“Over 20,000 NSW residents including children have added their voices to our calls for reform to how all victims are treated and heard in a system that continues to fail us – it is a call for change and a tribute to the memory of my beloved daughter, Biddy,” added Porter.