Slater and Gordon reach settlement with Ryan Meuleman over 2013 crash with Dan Andrews' vehicle
Ryan Meuleman launched legal action against Slater and Gordon alleging it failed to act in his best interest when negotiating an $80,000 compensation settlement with the Transport Accident Commission.
Mr Meuleman, who was 15 at the time, was seriously injured in January 2013 after colliding with the then-Labor opposition leader's Ford Territory, which was being driven by his wife Catherine at Blairgowrie.
Mr Andrews and the couple's three children were in the car at the time.
The family have consistently denied any wrongdoing, and no charges were laid following an investigation by Victoria Police.
Mr Meuleman spent 11 days in hospital after the crash.
He has alleged the car struck him, while the Andrews' have repeatedly insisted the cyclist crashed into their car.
On Wednesday, Mr Meuleman's lawyer, Marcus Clarke KC, confirmed the lawsuit had been settled after Ryan received a confidential offer 'too good to refuse'.
Details of the settlement are confidential, however, in a statement, Mr Meuleman said it felt incredible to be 'supported and believed'.
'For years, I never thought I could get here, where people are listening and want to know what really happened,' he said.
'I've got a bit of work to do on myself, and I can now afford some counselling which Mum and Dad reckon will be worth it. But to be honest, I feel good anyway, just knowing people care.'
Mr Meuleman has previously suggested he could launch defamation action against the Andrews family to pursue the truth of what happened that day, saying they 'should have owned up to it years ago'.
Mr and Mrs Andrews were not party to Mr Meuleman's case against Slater and Gordon.
How police handled the investigation was later subject to a probe by the independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) which found there were no 'deficiencies or areas of concern' in 2017.
After Mr Andrews' triple-0 call following the collision was made public late last year, the former Victorian Premier and his wife released a joint statement maintaining 'we did nothing wrong'.
'This matter has been comprehensively investigated over many years by Victoria Police Professional Standards Command and IBAC,' they said.
'While we are sorry that the cyclist was injured in the accident, we did nothing wrong.'
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The Advertiser
7 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Children face accused murderer 31 years after mum died
The children of a woman who was allegedly beaten and left to die three decades ago have expressed their relief after the man accused of her murder faced court. Mother of two Samantha Mizzi was found unresponsive by a passerby in bushes at the rear of a St Kilda property in Melbourne's southeast in March 1994. The 24-year-old from the central Victorian town of Castlemaine, near Bendigo, was taken to hospital but died the next morning. Police have been investigating the case for more than 30 years and earlier in 2025 issued a plea for more information on Ms Mizzi's death. A 67-year-old man was arrested in Ararat and charged with her murder and two counts of rape on Thursday. Court documents allege the man raped Ms Mizzi on March 29 and murdered her on March 30. He is understood to have previously been convicted of several sex offences and was labelled "a serious danger to the community" by a judge in 1998 for molesting and abducting a 10-year-old girl. A November 2023 suppression order prohibiting his identification is still in effect in the County Court, preventing the man being named in media reports. He faced Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday afternoon, bald with a long grey beard and wearing a Fire Rescue T-shirt. Ms Mizzi's daughter and son watched him as they sat in the front row of the courtroom for the brief hearing. Defence lawyer Vanessa Parbhoo said the man had been prescribed anti-depressants and medication for his diabetes. She said he had seen a nurse, but only had medication for two or three days. The man was remanded in custody and will return to court on December 18 for a committal mention. Outside court, Ms Mizzi's children Steven and Tanille said they were relieved someone had finally been charged over their mother's violent death. "We're very grateful this person's in custody and we're going to take some time as a family to process and everything," Steven said. "We've got a long journey ahead. No one's safe from a crime of this nature." Tanille said: "It sends a very powerful message, if someone can be convicted after 31 years. It's a big deterrence. We're still processing so I don't really have the right words." Police will allege Ms Mizzi was severely beaten with an object and sexually abused before being stripped and left to die. Her belongings were stolen and the weapon used in her alleged murder was never found. She had travelled to St Kilda the previous day in a bid to earn money to support her children, who were at home being cared for by a friend. The arrest and charges highlight how detectives remained committed to holding violent offenders to account no matter how many years had passed, Detective Inspector Dean Thomas said. "It also shows that progress can be made on cases, even after decades have passed, and that we can begin the process of providing families with long-needed answers," he said. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 The children of a woman who was allegedly beaten and left to die three decades ago have expressed their relief after the man accused of her murder faced court. Mother of two Samantha Mizzi was found unresponsive by a passerby in bushes at the rear of a St Kilda property in Melbourne's southeast in March 1994. The 24-year-old from the central Victorian town of Castlemaine, near Bendigo, was taken to hospital but died the next morning. Police have been investigating the case for more than 30 years and earlier in 2025 issued a plea for more information on Ms Mizzi's death. A 67-year-old man was arrested in Ararat and charged with her murder and two counts of rape on Thursday. Court documents allege the man raped Ms Mizzi on March 29 and murdered her on March 30. He is understood to have previously been convicted of several sex offences and was labelled "a serious danger to the community" by a judge in 1998 for molesting and abducting a 10-year-old girl. A November 2023 suppression order prohibiting his identification is still in effect in the County Court, preventing the man being named in media reports. He faced Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday afternoon, bald with a long grey beard and wearing a Fire Rescue T-shirt. Ms Mizzi's daughter and son watched him as they sat in the front row of the courtroom for the brief hearing. Defence lawyer Vanessa Parbhoo said the man had been prescribed anti-depressants and medication for his diabetes. She said he had seen a nurse, but only had medication for two or three days. The man was remanded in custody and will return to court on December 18 for a committal mention. Outside court, Ms Mizzi's children Steven and Tanille said they were relieved someone had finally been charged over their mother's violent death. "We're very grateful this person's in custody and we're going to take some time as a family to process and everything," Steven said. "We've got a long journey ahead. No one's safe from a crime of this nature." Tanille said: "It sends a very powerful message, if someone can be convicted after 31 years. It's a big deterrence. We're still processing so I don't really have the right words." Police will allege Ms Mizzi was severely beaten with an object and sexually abused before being stripped and left to die. Her belongings were stolen and the weapon used in her alleged murder was never found. She had travelled to St Kilda the previous day in a bid to earn money to support her children, who were at home being cared for by a friend. The arrest and charges highlight how detectives remained committed to holding violent offenders to account no matter how many years had passed, Detective Inspector Dean Thomas said. "It also shows that progress can be made on cases, even after decades have passed, and that we can begin the process of providing families with long-needed answers," he said. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 The children of a woman who was allegedly beaten and left to die three decades ago have expressed their relief after the man accused of her murder faced court. Mother of two Samantha Mizzi was found unresponsive by a passerby in bushes at the rear of a St Kilda property in Melbourne's southeast in March 1994. The 24-year-old from the central Victorian town of Castlemaine, near Bendigo, was taken to hospital but died the next morning. Police have been investigating the case for more than 30 years and earlier in 2025 issued a plea for more information on Ms Mizzi's death. A 67-year-old man was arrested in Ararat and charged with her murder and two counts of rape on Thursday. Court documents allege the man raped Ms Mizzi on March 29 and murdered her on March 30. He is understood to have previously been convicted of several sex offences and was labelled "a serious danger to the community" by a judge in 1998 for molesting and abducting a 10-year-old girl. A November 2023 suppression order prohibiting his identification is still in effect in the County Court, preventing the man being named in media reports. He faced Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday afternoon, bald with a long grey beard and wearing a Fire Rescue T-shirt. Ms Mizzi's daughter and son watched him as they sat in the front row of the courtroom for the brief hearing. Defence lawyer Vanessa Parbhoo said the man had been prescribed anti-depressants and medication for his diabetes. She said he had seen a nurse, but only had medication for two or three days. The man was remanded in custody and will return to court on December 18 for a committal mention. Outside court, Ms Mizzi's children Steven and Tanille said they were relieved someone had finally been charged over their mother's violent death. "We're very grateful this person's in custody and we're going to take some time as a family to process and everything," Steven said. "We've got a long journey ahead. No one's safe from a crime of this nature." Tanille said: "It sends a very powerful message, if someone can be convicted after 31 years. It's a big deterrence. We're still processing so I don't really have the right words." Police will allege Ms Mizzi was severely beaten with an object and sexually abused before being stripped and left to die. Her belongings were stolen and the weapon used in her alleged murder was never found. She had travelled to St Kilda the previous day in a bid to earn money to support her children, who were at home being cared for by a friend. The arrest and charges highlight how detectives remained committed to holding violent offenders to account no matter how many years had passed, Detective Inspector Dean Thomas said. "It also shows that progress can be made on cases, even after decades have passed, and that we can begin the process of providing families with long-needed answers," he said. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 The children of a woman who was allegedly beaten and left to die three decades ago have expressed their relief after the man accused of her murder faced court. Mother of two Samantha Mizzi was found unresponsive by a passerby in bushes at the rear of a St Kilda property in Melbourne's southeast in March 1994. The 24-year-old from the central Victorian town of Castlemaine, near Bendigo, was taken to hospital but died the next morning. Police have been investigating the case for more than 30 years and earlier in 2025 issued a plea for more information on Ms Mizzi's death. A 67-year-old man was arrested in Ararat and charged with her murder and two counts of rape on Thursday. Court documents allege the man raped Ms Mizzi on March 29 and murdered her on March 30. He is understood to have previously been convicted of several sex offences and was labelled "a serious danger to the community" by a judge in 1998 for molesting and abducting a 10-year-old girl. A November 2023 suppression order prohibiting his identification is still in effect in the County Court, preventing the man being named in media reports. He faced Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday afternoon, bald with a long grey beard and wearing a Fire Rescue T-shirt. Ms Mizzi's daughter and son watched him as they sat in the front row of the courtroom for the brief hearing. Defence lawyer Vanessa Parbhoo said the man had been prescribed anti-depressants and medication for his diabetes. She said he had seen a nurse, but only had medication for two or three days. The man was remanded in custody and will return to court on December 18 for a committal mention. Outside court, Ms Mizzi's children Steven and Tanille said they were relieved someone had finally been charged over their mother's violent death. "We're very grateful this person's in custody and we're going to take some time as a family to process and everything," Steven said. "We've got a long journey ahead. No one's safe from a crime of this nature." Tanille said: "It sends a very powerful message, if someone can be convicted after 31 years. It's a big deterrence. We're still processing so I don't really have the right words." Police will allege Ms Mizzi was severely beaten with an object and sexually abused before being stripped and left to die. Her belongings were stolen and the weapon used in her alleged murder was never found. She had travelled to St Kilda the previous day in a bid to earn money to support her children, who were at home being cared for by a friend. The arrest and charges highlight how detectives remained committed to holding violent offenders to account no matter how many years had passed, Detective Inspector Dean Thomas said. "It also shows that progress can be made on cases, even after decades have passed, and that we can begin the process of providing families with long-needed answers," he said. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
The Advertiser
11 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Leaders tested as gun fired in race for seaside seat
An unusual by-election is looming as the first real test of an opposition leader's ambitions to become premier of his state. NSW Labor on Thursday confirmed former journalist and union official Katelin McInerney as its candidate bidding to win the coastal seat of Kiama on September 13 and inch the party closer to majority government. But the by-election, triggered by former MP Gareth Ward being jailed for rape, has heralded the first test of the Liberal leader Mark Speakman's electoral chops. Mr Speakman will hope to stave off internal challengers by winning over voters who backed Ward in 2023 after he was banished from the party. Five by-elections have been held since the last election but Kiama is the first true Liberal-Labor battle, election analyst Ben Raue told AAP. "Speakman has struggled to break through and so there could be implications for him, in terms of his leadership if they don't do well," Mr Raue said. "By-elections, historically, have often been triggers for changes in party leadership." The importance Labor is placing on the contest was reflected by Thursday's visit to the seat by Premier Chris Minns. He unveiled Ms McInerney, a Kiama local, as the candidate trusted by party officials to turn the former safe seat red for the first time since 2011. Ward edged out Ms McInerney by fewer than 700 votes in 2023 but a large swing to Labor in upper house polling places it in the box seat to win it back. The government has not run a candidate in any other by-election since 2023. "We're nervous about the by-election, but we're also determined to fight for every single vote in the next few weeks," the premier said. The police investigation into Ward sparked his exit from the Liberal Party in 2021 and his suspension from parliament in 2022, before voters re-elected the charged man in 2023. "The people of Kiama have had uncertainty for the better part of five years ... people are telling me they want a strong voice in parliament," Ms McInerney said. Mr Raue said electoral baggage from Ward's status as a long-time Liberal MP would likely harm the opposition's chances. Mr Speakman downplayed his party's chances ahead of unveiling the Liberal candidate on Friday. The Liberals ran a candidate in 2023, but garnered only one in eight votes with many local branch members refusing to try to dislodge the incumbent Ward. "I'm prepared to take the fight up to the government and, more importantly, to give the people of Kiama a choice," Mr Speakman told ABC Radio Sydney on Wednesday. Ward is in prison awaiting sentencing for offences including sexually assaulting an intoxicated political staffer after a parliamentary event in 2015. He was also found to have sexually abused a drunken 18-year-old man in 2013. Ward intends to appeal his convictions. An unusual by-election is looming as the first real test of an opposition leader's ambitions to become premier of his state. NSW Labor on Thursday confirmed former journalist and union official Katelin McInerney as its candidate bidding to win the coastal seat of Kiama on September 13 and inch the party closer to majority government. But the by-election, triggered by former MP Gareth Ward being jailed for rape, has heralded the first test of the Liberal leader Mark Speakman's electoral chops. Mr Speakman will hope to stave off internal challengers by winning over voters who backed Ward in 2023 after he was banished from the party. Five by-elections have been held since the last election but Kiama is the first true Liberal-Labor battle, election analyst Ben Raue told AAP. "Speakman has struggled to break through and so there could be implications for him, in terms of his leadership if they don't do well," Mr Raue said. "By-elections, historically, have often been triggers for changes in party leadership." The importance Labor is placing on the contest was reflected by Thursday's visit to the seat by Premier Chris Minns. He unveiled Ms McInerney, a Kiama local, as the candidate trusted by party officials to turn the former safe seat red for the first time since 2011. Ward edged out Ms McInerney by fewer than 700 votes in 2023 but a large swing to Labor in upper house polling places it in the box seat to win it back. The government has not run a candidate in any other by-election since 2023. "We're nervous about the by-election, but we're also determined to fight for every single vote in the next few weeks," the premier said. The police investigation into Ward sparked his exit from the Liberal Party in 2021 and his suspension from parliament in 2022, before voters re-elected the charged man in 2023. "The people of Kiama have had uncertainty for the better part of five years ... people are telling me they want a strong voice in parliament," Ms McInerney said. Mr Raue said electoral baggage from Ward's status as a long-time Liberal MP would likely harm the opposition's chances. Mr Speakman downplayed his party's chances ahead of unveiling the Liberal candidate on Friday. The Liberals ran a candidate in 2023, but garnered only one in eight votes with many local branch members refusing to try to dislodge the incumbent Ward. "I'm prepared to take the fight up to the government and, more importantly, to give the people of Kiama a choice," Mr Speakman told ABC Radio Sydney on Wednesday. Ward is in prison awaiting sentencing for offences including sexually assaulting an intoxicated political staffer after a parliamentary event in 2015. He was also found to have sexually abused a drunken 18-year-old man in 2013. Ward intends to appeal his convictions. An unusual by-election is looming as the first real test of an opposition leader's ambitions to become premier of his state. NSW Labor on Thursday confirmed former journalist and union official Katelin McInerney as its candidate bidding to win the coastal seat of Kiama on September 13 and inch the party closer to majority government. But the by-election, triggered by former MP Gareth Ward being jailed for rape, has heralded the first test of the Liberal leader Mark Speakman's electoral chops. Mr Speakman will hope to stave off internal challengers by winning over voters who backed Ward in 2023 after he was banished from the party. Five by-elections have been held since the last election but Kiama is the first true Liberal-Labor battle, election analyst Ben Raue told AAP. "Speakman has struggled to break through and so there could be implications for him, in terms of his leadership if they don't do well," Mr Raue said. "By-elections, historically, have often been triggers for changes in party leadership." The importance Labor is placing on the contest was reflected by Thursday's visit to the seat by Premier Chris Minns. He unveiled Ms McInerney, a Kiama local, as the candidate trusted by party officials to turn the former safe seat red for the first time since 2011. Ward edged out Ms McInerney by fewer than 700 votes in 2023 but a large swing to Labor in upper house polling places it in the box seat to win it back. The government has not run a candidate in any other by-election since 2023. "We're nervous about the by-election, but we're also determined to fight for every single vote in the next few weeks," the premier said. The police investigation into Ward sparked his exit from the Liberal Party in 2021 and his suspension from parliament in 2022, before voters re-elected the charged man in 2023. "The people of Kiama have had uncertainty for the better part of five years ... people are telling me they want a strong voice in parliament," Ms McInerney said. Mr Raue said electoral baggage from Ward's status as a long-time Liberal MP would likely harm the opposition's chances. Mr Speakman downplayed his party's chances ahead of unveiling the Liberal candidate on Friday. The Liberals ran a candidate in 2023, but garnered only one in eight votes with many local branch members refusing to try to dislodge the incumbent Ward. "I'm prepared to take the fight up to the government and, more importantly, to give the people of Kiama a choice," Mr Speakman told ABC Radio Sydney on Wednesday. Ward is in prison awaiting sentencing for offences including sexually assaulting an intoxicated political staffer after a parliamentary event in 2015. He was also found to have sexually abused a drunken 18-year-old man in 2013. Ward intends to appeal his convictions. An unusual by-election is looming as the first real test of an opposition leader's ambitions to become premier of his state. NSW Labor on Thursday confirmed former journalist and union official Katelin McInerney as its candidate bidding to win the coastal seat of Kiama on September 13 and inch the party closer to majority government. But the by-election, triggered by former MP Gareth Ward being jailed for rape, has heralded the first test of the Liberal leader Mark Speakman's electoral chops. Mr Speakman will hope to stave off internal challengers by winning over voters who backed Ward in 2023 after he was banished from the party. Five by-elections have been held since the last election but Kiama is the first true Liberal-Labor battle, election analyst Ben Raue told AAP. "Speakman has struggled to break through and so there could be implications for him, in terms of his leadership if they don't do well," Mr Raue said. "By-elections, historically, have often been triggers for changes in party leadership." The importance Labor is placing on the contest was reflected by Thursday's visit to the seat by Premier Chris Minns. He unveiled Ms McInerney, a Kiama local, as the candidate trusted by party officials to turn the former safe seat red for the first time since 2011. Ward edged out Ms McInerney by fewer than 700 votes in 2023 but a large swing to Labor in upper house polling places it in the box seat to win it back. The government has not run a candidate in any other by-election since 2023. "We're nervous about the by-election, but we're also determined to fight for every single vote in the next few weeks," the premier said. The police investigation into Ward sparked his exit from the Liberal Party in 2021 and his suspension from parliament in 2022, before voters re-elected the charged man in 2023. "The people of Kiama have had uncertainty for the better part of five years ... people are telling me they want a strong voice in parliament," Ms McInerney said. Mr Raue said electoral baggage from Ward's status as a long-time Liberal MP would likely harm the opposition's chances. Mr Speakman downplayed his party's chances ahead of unveiling the Liberal candidate on Friday. The Liberals ran a candidate in 2023, but garnered only one in eight votes with many local branch members refusing to try to dislodge the incumbent Ward. "I'm prepared to take the fight up to the government and, more importantly, to give the people of Kiama a choice," Mr Speakman told ABC Radio Sydney on Wednesday. Ward is in prison awaiting sentencing for offences including sexually assaulting an intoxicated political staffer after a parliamentary event in 2015. He was also found to have sexually abused a drunken 18-year-old man in 2013. Ward intends to appeal his convictions.
The Age
11 hours ago
- The Age
Australia news LIVE: David Stratton dies; Albanese, Chalmers react to leaked treasury document; Hamas denies praising Australia's Palestine recognition decision; Watt protects salmon farming in Tasmania
Latest posts Latest posts 5.08pm Bail denials trigger juvenile jail rise By Jack Gramenz and Alexander Darling Almost 10 classrooms worth of children are in jail in NSW, alone as bail changes trigger a sharp increase in custody numbers. NSW Premier Chris Minns defended his bail changes on Thursday as data showed more than 230 children were in NSW jails in June. That figure was 34 per cent higher than two years earlier, the state's crime statistics bureau said. It reversed a trend of declining numbers of jailed children, the bureau's executive director Jackie Fitzgerald said. The majority of jailed children have not been convicted, with only 66 in custody due to sentencing. More than 70 per cent are on remand while they go through the court process. But the increase is not necessarily driven by laws placing additional tests on bail, suggesting access to bail has tightened. 'It seems to be beyond just the offences that were targeted or the particular circumstances that were targeted under the legislative change,' Ms Fitzgerald said. Loading The state government has limited access to bail for children aged 14 and over accused of break-and-enter and motor vehicle theft offences while bailed on similar charges. Bail for accused domestic violence offenders has also been restricted. In Victoria, the state government announced changes to it bail laws in March following some high-profile offences. Parts of the reforms were introduced later so that the state could hire extra corrections staff to cope with the expected influx there. With AAP 4.59pm 'These are not new ideas': Opposition says Labor supporting ideas it opposed at election By Alexander Darling Staying with Afternoon Briefing, and the opposition has had its say on that leaked Treasury document suggesting what the outcomes of next week's productivity roundtable should be in advance. 'I think it's very curious that two of the Treasury ideas were ideas that we had at the last election,' said Shadow Minister for Housing and Productivity, Senator Andrew Bragg, when he went on the show. 'That tells you that the central agency thinks that coalition policy ideas are credible.' 'In fact, the government said during the last campaign that changing the National Construction Code was a bad idea and, in fact, Ed Husic said that it would result in there being bad houses or shoddy housing in Australia. 'So, there was a reason this was our policy - because we knew there was a lot of red tape in the housing sector. And in relation to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, we also had a policy there to remove some of the red tape and to get the approvals moving.' 'These are not new ideas. These are ideas that Labor would have known about last term. But instead of actually helping housing, in the last term, they put in place lots and lots of red tape.' Bragg also wouldn't be drawn on whether he still supported the opposition's pledge from this year's election campaign, to cut new migrants by 100,000 people a year. Host Patricia Karvelas noted Shadow Home Affairs Minister Andrew Hastie reaffirmed his support for this target last week.
