Hi, it's Jay here, the host of the podcast Our Little Leading I just wanted to say thanks for your support of Eden's case and the heartbreaking story of Eden Westbrook and the ten year journey for her parents, Jason and Amanda Westbrook and their family.

We've always believed that there is much more to Eden's death, and we've spent the last three years looking into all of it.

Of particular interest was the police officer Paul Reynolds, who was working at the Coroner's office at the time of Eden's death and was helping compile the inquest notes for Eden.

In twenty seventeen, police Professional Standards raided Reynolds's home and found child abuse material on his phone and devices.

The next day, he killed himself and that's where our new podcast, Badger Betrayal begins.

It's an investigation into Reynolds and everything revolving around his forty year career as a Tasmanian police officer.

In this podcast, we have whistleblowers that have come forward, a current serving police officer who breaks ranks, a great risk to himself.

We've got emails and behind closed door conversations.

What we know is that there are breadcrumbs everywhere and the place it leads we feel is worrying.

If you're a new listener or a listener that's been with us for the whole journey of Eden's story, I just want to say you've been so supportive of Eden's case, and we're asking for you to help on this new investigation.

The way to do that is to search the podcast Badge of Betrayal on your favorite podcast app, follow the show, and if you like it, give it a review and tell your friends.

Our wish, just like our Little Edie's podcast, is that this new show brings about more chain with those that are supposed to protect us.

Thanks for listening, and thank you again for your support.

Approchiate production.

This is a really special episode of Odalie Leedy.

In fact, it's a special day for the Westbrook family.

Honorable Deputy Premier and Attorney General.

Thanks very much, speaker.

And before I share some remarks, i'd just like to acknowledge in the chamber today, Jason and Amanda Westbrook, Dante and Sky as well, and Chase.

I can't see Echo there, but I think she's there as well, a couple of the grandkids, and I just want to acknowledge the Westbrook family.

A very special day for the Westbrook family and of course many others as well, So, Honorable Speaker, I moved that the bill now be read a second time.

I'm pleased to have the opportunity.

That's Guy Barnett, the Attorney General of Tasmania, live streaming for the House of Assembly on Thursday, the eleventh of September.

As I sit here in Brisbane watching the live stream, I'm also looking at a photo that's just been sent to me.

It's from Jason and Amanda and it's them with their kids, Dante and Sky, and their little niece and nephew.

In front of them are a bunch of media, microphones and cameras and they're on the front lawn of Parliament House and Tasmania.

I have personally met with Jason and Amanda Westbrook, and I am grateful for the information they have shared with me and for the time they have taken to provide feedback.

On these amendments.

Based on the feedback from mister and Missus Westbrook and consideration of submissions and approaches in other jurisdictions, is that the question of whether to seek medical advice or counseling before viewing the records provided is ultimately a matter for the senior next of kin and not appropriate to mandate in the bill.

The bill was also amended based on their feedback and with consideration of submissions and other jurisdictions, to require the Coronial Authority to apply to all coronial records, not just post mortem records.

Thursday the eleventh, or September, at three PM, a bill that was tabled by the Attorney General Guy Barnett.

This bill that was to give next of kin access to coronial records, including autopsy photos and reports in certain cases, is something that Jason and Amanda have been wanting for a long time.

And this amendment requires the coronial record to be provided within twenty eight days after the request is made, or such longer period as is agreed with the senior next of kin, and an avenue for review if there is a failure to.

Comply with that timeframe.

This will ensure the timely provision of coronial records.

The amendments to the Currenters Act provide for a clear and direct ride of access by senior next of kin to cornial records.

This is essential in the spirit of open justice to ensure transparency, accountability, and public confidence in our justice system.

I also hope that the provision of this material can provide some amount of closure to families following an investigation into a death.

You can hear mister Barnett was emotional as he read those words, and as the next words were spoken.

I got a wonderful message from Jason Amanda, who are watching live in the room.

And having said that, I commend the bill to the House.

Thank you, Attorney General.

The question is that the bill be read a second time.

Those are the opinions of that opinion, say I to the contrary, No, the eyes have it a bill for actual and the Sentencing Act to nineteen ninety seven.

You can probably tell from the joy in my voice, but this is not the end, and it doesn't mean they can automatically get Eden's full coronial file tomorrow.

There's a few more steps to go, and to explain those in simple terms, this was the first step.

The bill has been passed in the House of Assembly or the lower house.

The next stage is the Legislative Council.

They can either pass it, amend it, or reject it.

That doesn't seem likely.

If they do agree, it goes to the Governor of Tasmania, who gives it royal assent on behalf of the crown.

Eden's Law then becomes an Act of Parliament.

It's amazing.

It was actually amazing to see and feel and watch and be there, and the grace and generosity of Guy on the day toward our family.

You know what we're like, We just go like a steam train, really and sometimes you're running on empty.

And Jason and I got up to Saint Mary's Pass and I'd forgotten our lunch, which I normally pack a meal to travel so we don't have to stop, and so when we got to Parliament we were quite hungry and I said to God, he said, oh, look, it's going to be delayed.

And I said, oh, look, Jason needs to eat.

He's been driving and I didn't bring out back lunch and we didn't stop because we end up heading up to Lonceston to pick up Chase and Echo to take for the day.

So it sort of made us late, but it didn't matter because Parliament was running late as well.

But when we got in there, Guy said, hungry, Jason, come on down to the cafeteria.

It's on me, and like shouted us to feed and sat down with this and had a conversation.

It was really.

Really warm and heat his I think it's his advisor or is it to be for stuff.

I'm not sure.

He's left an enormous impression on Chase, which is really what I wanted to happen whilst he was experienced this and he was just a little bit gobsmacked face.

He got to sit in the speaker's chair and Guy said, I said, get a photo.

Guy with Chase standing beside the speaker's chair.

He said, not standing.

He said, Chase come and s did it and it was just a really yeah, it was adorable and the seat is one hundred years old plus.

Yes, when we had young Chase there, Guy took him to that chair and there was a portrait which you may have seen in some of the pictures I.

Set you and that man, Sir Richard Dry He was.

Knighted by the Queen after serving as a premier in.

The eighteen hundreds late eighteen hundreds.

That chair that Chaser sitting in was built by a convict in that era.

If I'm not allowed, I'd like to read you it's an SMS from Guy Barnett this morning.

This is what he's written.

Thank you so much for your kind message and glad you and Jason and the family were happy with the day in Parliament and yes, emotional all round, but landed well, delighted that we are not far from the end of this chapter, knowing that there's one more to come.

And yes, it was a great to chat with Hunter.

You should be very.

Proud of her and of course your whole family in brackets.

I enjoyed meeting Sky and Dante and grandchildren, who were.

A delight to meet.

Here is a photo of Chase in the original speaker's chair made by a convict for Sir Richard Dry.

By the way, Eka did a great job hanging out with us adults most of the day in the meantime, kindest regards and best wishes, Gley Barnatt.

How did you feel jas yesterday?

Mate?

I'm humbled, totally humbled by the whole day.

It was.

Yeah, it was tiring, it was emotional, and I felt the warmth of Amanda felt in that room by all the people in there, all the candidates of Tasmania sitting in the green room or the Parliament House.

There wasn't one person against what was happening.

They all could see this change was necessary, and there wasn't a person in there that didn't shake my hand and hug Amanda and I believe you saw little bit on the live feed and we got special treatment day, and that can happen in life.

We were meant to be sitting in the public gallery and looking over, looking down as you do when you go there.

However, after lunch at the cafeteria, we were escorted into the speakers reserve.

I don't know, are you aware of that spot, Jake.

I've never been into Parliament, but I can admit it sounds like it's a bit more in the public gallery.

Well, it's very mate.

I had never I didn't even know there was a speaker's reserve.

However, the speakers reserve is on the floor.

You're on the eye level with all the politicians.

Yeah, there's no glass, there's no security, you're sitting on the floor.

You're right there listening to everything.

And we were given that privilege with Echo, with Chase, with Sky and Don and Amanda, myself, and it was just a real moment that we'll never forget.

The children were just in awe of what happened and what we've been able to achieve as a family, and.

Looking at the people that were in the room at the end when they came and acknowledged us, I'm quietly confident, Hazy, We've got a good group of people that might just lead us into some good leadership.

We're a little taken.

Back by the whole thing.

Feel happy for Tasmania.

Why from our seven Tasmania Studios Your ninety News with Kim Miller begins now Good evening.

A decade after fifteen year old Eden Westbrook's death in Saint Helen's, her family's fight, have details about her case released is a step closer.

So we let guy know were they look.

Guy, we've actually got a go.

We've got a media.

They want to have a chat to us and ask us a few questions.

Anyway, we've gone out and we've got on there and we've spoken to the man.

Amana took the reins and she spoke really well.

Eden was actually had a second injury, and we wondered why the chief magistrate and the coroner didn't see that as an alarm bell, given that it was indicative with homicide.

But one of the things that I remember most of that day yesterday was a cameraman.

Jay.

Straight after Yeah, we were interviewed.

He's come up to me and he shook my hand.

We actually want him to contact us.

Why I'm bringing this up, Jay, is he thanked me and Amanda for you know, what we've done for not just Eden, but for Tasmanians and how hard it is to deal with losing a child.

And I said, oh, thanks mate, you know and he started to well and I could see that this is deeper than you know, just Eden, and I said, are you okay?

He said, oh, look, I lost a child.

I said, I'm so sorry, my condolences and he started to cry and he says, but look, people like you you just inspire me.

And I just felt for this guy.

It's actually making me a little bit emotional.

Now.

I want to speak to him again.

I wish I had hugged him, because there's nothing wrong with men hugging each other, and I just want to I want to talk to him a bit longer because I think we can help each other.

And there's a second lady, just quickly, Jay.

Sorry.

On the way out of town last night, we stopped.

At a takeaway shop and Chase and Echo came in with me, and there was another little girl echoes age, standing in front of a mature woman my age, let's say.

She says, I know you, and i'm sort of I was still dressed up like I was yesterday.

Ja.

I was still my slacks and what good shoes in my jacket.

And I thought, oh, you must have.

Seen the news editorial from the Mercury online, because that was already starting to pake its head around.

And she said, I've listened to the podcast.

I said, oh, wow, thanks, that's great.

What do you think.

She's I just I admire you and your wife and what you've done.

And you know, I said, so you don't know about today?

She said, no, what's happened today?

And I pulled out a screenshot that someone had sent me from the Mercury's headline and I said, look what happened.

I said, the bill's been passed through the law House today, and she's.

Just she grabbed a heart and she said, I'm so happy for you.

She's there.

I just want to let you know that I used to work for the Professional Standards in Tasmanian Police, and she said, and I had to resign because of my moral compass It's funny how you just take your head around and things come at you.

You know, these two people, that guy love to speak them again, And I'd love to run into that woman again and just pay some questions because I'm interested in anything where there's a little bit of you know.

Sitting here in Brisbane watching it on the live stream, it was hard not to be emotional, even while I'm thinking about, you know, putting this episode together quickly for release.

There was a moment, Jase that was just a classic Westbrook moment which I don't know you clocked.

You probably haven't watched the live stream back.

But just as everything and you and Amanda, Amanda hugs a few people and you're about to walk out, Parliament resumes.

Mister Barnett goes on to talk about some other issues that he's bringing up in the Lower House, and just in the middle of hidden talking, I hear in the background Chase an Echo talking and then I hear you going, all right, see your lader.

Guys.

It was classic Westbrook.

It was classic Jason Westbrook.

Tony you wish to sum up right?

Yeah, thank thank you again, Thank you again to the Westbrook.

So I'm very pleased to be able to wrap up the sentencing amendment aggravating fact.

For me, it was just showing how down to worth you two are and how.

That's really appreciated.

Jay.

Oh, look, I had a group hug with Guy and Amber.

I was just opening my arms to everybody that had had a part in this, and you know it's Parliament.

They're like, we got a no touching zone.

I'm like coming and you come coming, in, coming in for a hug, and guys like Amanda the hugger like you.

And the reason that Jason could say yes years or later is because that's how comfortable they made us feel.

Yeah, we felt respected for the first time in a long time.

I felt like.

People respected me as Eden's dad, and they respected Amanda is Eden's mum and what we've gone through because we.

Walked tall and we're strong.

We know where thicks and we know we get knocked down and the owls being brought up in the you know, I was born in sixty nine, j So you.

Were kicked in the guts and told to get up.

You play footy, you know, you need to get up and run.

And I'm like that, mate, and it's okay to be like that.

So yeah, we're we're I'm lost for words.

Past was funny.

He was thanking this for taking him when we dropped him off to his parents, and I said, oh, I know that was easy, Chase, So I really wanted to do experience that.

He said, Nn.

It was really strange how when Guy would open the door for me and he has got this beautiful experience impressioned in his mind and he was pinching himself all day.

He couldn't want to get back to school to tell his teachers and his tears on what he did Thursday, the eleventh of September twenty twenty five.

Mate, that's that's etched in his brain for the rest of his life.

This beautiful and at.

Thirteen, we're impressionable mane.

So for him to get that impression, it's where's his nan and pop?

Mate.

We're pretty proud we're able to give him that.

And for Parliament to treat our grandchildren and our children and our family like they did, I just I respect them all for what they did for us.

There's a different feeling towards everybody that we've met now and I'm received that.

It's definitely an embrace.

And being mindful while we were there.

Every one of those speakers they acknowledged us in the room in their speech.

They eyed us, They've looked us in the eye.

And you know, body language, shoe are no body language.

It was sincere and it threw a powerful punch at me of sincerity, and you don't get that often in life.

And you know, I can clearly see people have my back.

When I'm not in the room.

All that gaslighting, you bastards that have tried.

To do to me and my family, you haven't won, because yesterday prove that we've got people out there of high caliber that are now fighting for us and believing in us, and they want the truth written for our daughter.

So yeah, I'm in a really good spot now.

Jay, A bit emotionally drained obviously because of a massive day, but looking forward to the weekend and moving on and getting my house built.

Mate.

The next step is that was passed through the lower House, it now goes to the Upper House, and that is that is that is a formality post that if both the lower and the Upper agree, it gets written into legislation.

Yes, yes, indeed it does, Jay.

And Rosalie, the Greens leader, Yeah, she was pushing for it this to happen like very quickly, So this could happen where we were told it could be months away.

The other big news that we can talk about in the show that we haven't been able to mention before just because it wasn't the right time, is that you have a new pro bono barrister.

Yes, yes, yes, very exciting, very thrilled, really looking forward to working with Philip Stone.

He's PC in Victoria and he's been completely briefed on the whole years.

You might say he's all over it and we're really really looking forward to when that four starts rolling.

But until that point we really don't need to.

It's not necessarily a couple to take up Phillip's time at this present time, so we haven't spoken directly.

However, part of our team is in regular conversation and email with this guy, and once we've got the green light, Jay, that will be a matter of process, and the process will begin.

This is only as guy in the SMS, this is only a chapter finished.

This isn't the end of the story, Jay, As you know, we need this inquest.

We need to get Ed's death date right, we need accountability, and we won't go away.

And for everything that has followed the death of our baby, that has to be acknowledged and put to sleep as well, because people can't be treated like that, not in any capacity.

You know, We've got to stop treating people like this.

They said to me yesterday.

You know, we hope we can move this forward and get closure for you, mister Westbrook.

And this is at the media conference, and I said, look, I said, that's really appreciated, and I can understand that.

You know, we all would like to get closure, but as a parent that's lost a child, that's there is never a closure you lose a child, Jay, And I hope you never experienced this, mate.

I wish I never did.

It's a part of you goes and we've felt that hole, and with that whole, we needed to, as you know, speak and get to the bottom of what happened to Eden.

For Eden and that beautiful voice that Eden we no longer hear except on a video we feel was her yesterday And as Eden's dad, mate, I fell her yesterday and it was just one of the moments that I'm so glad I've lived long enough to fight for Eden, because I've watched stories of heartbreak and grief throughout my life, and I've seen people die without finishing the fight or walking away from the battle because the bureaucratic nonsense.

And I'm super proud of Amanda.

I'm super proud of myself, mate, and my kids and my grandkids, and the support from you and all those people were thanked and I hope we.

Haven't missed anyone.

Yeah, it just means so much day.

This is by far one of the greatest proof edges of telling Jason and Amanda and Eden's story.

But it's not over yet.

The next steps are to see Eden's Law become an Act of Parliament and then the real investigation begins.

Oh, J today, Double eight sends us this morning the Mercury newspaper front page, and I can't see anything.

You can't see a picture of be in.

I can't see anything about your day.

And I'm thinking, oh, it must be a story in there.

You know.

Double eight has written back under it and said Eden's Law.

And then I've zoomed into the page and on the top right hand corner of Today's Mercury.

It says Eden's Law rectors J.

I'll be in a national wreck.

Even talking to you.

I'm a bit diary today.

And he's come to picked me up for work and I says, what happened, what's happened?

And he says nothing.

I says, you just look wrecked.

I am.

I've had a national day and that to see that this morning, I was just overwhelmed.

With unexpected as well.

And I know it's not going to be called Etanslaw, and I really don't expect that.

I know, I think I might have said that in the podcast.

I actually thought about it.

I think it should be Etan's Law, and I probably in the back of my mind couldn't see why it couldn't be.

But I don't want to offend anyone.

Yeah, and well, I want it for the people.

You've done a service to Tasmanians by fighting for this change.

I'm so bloody proud of both of you guys, I really am.

And we appreciate your smsage yesterday throughout proceedings today.

You know, you've been a rock for us throughout the last couple of years and you've let us spent You've heard the sad and the good and the funny and it's not so funny.

And yeah, we're wow.

Well and really this this is now the start of the investigation.

Been a hard, hard, long road, very lonely at times, and right now I don't feel alone.

Hi, it's Jay here, the host of the podcast Our Little Leading I just wanted to say thanks for your support of Eden's case and the heartbreaking story of Eden Westbrook and the ten year journey for her parents, Jason and Amanda Westbrook and their family.

We've always believed that there is much more to Eden's death, and we've spent the last three years looking into all of it.

Of particular interest was the police officer Paul Reynolds, who was working at the Coroner's office at the time of Eden's death and was helping compile the inquest notes for Eden.

In twenty seventeen, police Professional Standards raided Reynold's home and found child abuse material on his phone and devices.

The next day, he killed himself and that's where our new podcast, Badger Betrayed begins.

It's an investigation into Reynolds and everything revolving around his forty year career as a Tasmanian police officer.

In this podcast, we have whistleblowers that have come forward, a current serving police officer who breaks ranks a great risk to himself.

We've got emails and behind closed door conversations.

What we know is that there are breadcrumbs everywhere, and the place it leads, we feel is worrying.

If you're a new listener or a listener that's been with us for the whole journey of Eden's story, I just want to say you've been so supportive of Eden's case and we're asking for you to help on this new investigation.

The way to do that is to search the podcast Badge of Betrayal on your favorite podcast app, follow the show, and if you like it, give it a review and tell your friends.

Our wish, just like our Little Edies podcast, is that this new show brings about more change with those that are supposed to protect us.

Thanks for listening, and thank you again for your support.

Approchate Production