Victorian Opposition Leader Jess Wilson has promised new sentencing laws named after 22-year-old Aidan Becker, who was fatally stabbed while trying to protect a schoolboy from an alleged violent robbery at Mernda railway station earlier this year.
The Victorian Liberals and Nationals have announced they will introduce Aidan’s Law if elected on 28 November, requiring courts to specifically consider attacks on good Samaritans as an aggravating circumstance when sentencing offenders.
The proposal follows calls for stronger legal protections from Aidan’s mother, Natalie Becker, whose son died on 6 March 2026 after intervening to help a 14-year-old boy allegedly being assaulted and robbed at Mernda railway station in Melbourne’s north.
Aidan, a security guard at The Alfred Hospital, was returning home from work when he witnessed the confrontation.
According to Victoria Police, the young man stepped in to protect the schoolboy and attempted to lead him away from danger. He was subsequently followed and allegedly attacked by a group using fists, kicks and edged weapons.
Despite efforts by bystanders and emergency services, Aidan died at the scene.
Four people were subsequently charged with murder and armed robbery in connection with his death. Three teenage defendants pleaded not guilty to murder in August, with their matters transferred to the Supreme Court. The allegations remain subject to court proceedings.
The tragedy prompted an outpouring of grief across Melbourne, with thousands gathering at Mernda railway station for a candlelight vigil in Aidan’s memory.
A memorial plaque was also unveiled at the station in June, recognising his courage and sacrifice.
Under the Coalition’s proposed legislation, Victoria’s Sentencing Act 1991 would be amended to explicitly require judges and magistrates to consider whether a victim was attacked while acting as a good Samaritan.
Although courts can already take such circumstances into account, the Coalition argues the absence of a specific statutory requirement fails to adequately recognise the seriousness of attacks on people attempting to protect others.
The proposed change would apply at sentencing following a conviction. It would not create a separate criminal offence or automatically impose a fixed additional penalty.
Wilson said Aidan’s actions demonstrated extraordinary courage and should lead to lasting legislative change.
“Aidan’s courage should never be forgotten, and his legacy should be a law that stands up for people who stand up for others,” Wilson said.
“Every parent hopes that if their child is ever in danger, someone will be brave enough to step in and help.
“That’s exactly what Aidan did. He saw a young boy in trouble, stepped in to protect him, and never made it home.”
Wilson said the young man’s death had devastated his family and raised serious questions about how the justice system recognises people who put themselves at risk to help others.
“Aidan was just 22 years old and had his whole life ahead of him. His family should be planning his future, not mourning his loss,” she said.
“What happened to Aidan was heartbreaking. But we have an opportunity to make sure something good comes from this terrible tragedy.”
“If you’re brave enough to stand up for someone else, the law should stand up for you.”
Shadow Attorney-General James Newbury said the proposed legislation would provide clearer direction to courts when dealing with attacks on people attempting to prevent violence.
“Aidan’s Law will send a clear message that attacks on people helping others must be taken seriously by the courts,” Newbury said.
“Victorians should never have to think twice about helping someone in danger because they’re worried about becoming a victim themselves.”
Newbury also criticised the Victorian Labor Government’s approach to sentencing reform, arguing that changes could be introduced without waiting for another comprehensive review.
“We don’t need another review to recognise that people who put themselves in harm’s way to protect others deserve the full backing of the law,” he said.
The announcement comes as the Victorian Government undertakes a broader review of the Sentencing Act.
The review, announced in May 2026 and funded through the state budget, is being conducted by the Sentencing Advisory Council. It will consider how sentencing laws can better reflect community expectations, support victims and improve consistency across the justice system.
Importantly, the government’s review specifically includes sentencing outcomes for offences against people intervening to stop violence.
The council is expected to deliver its final recommendations to the Attorney-General in mid-2028, with public consultation scheduled to begin in April 2027.
The Coalition argues that victims and families should not have to wait until that review is completed for the proposed protections to be introduced.
However, the reform would not guarantee a particular sentence. Courts would still need to consider the circumstances of each offence, the offender and other applicable sentencing principles.
The announcement adds another criminal justice proposal to the Coalition’s election platform, with law and order becoming a major issue ahead of Victoria’s 28 November election.
For Aidan Becker’s family, the proposal offers the possibility of a lasting legal recognition of the young man’s actions on the day he died.
The Coalition says it wants his name to become associated with a principle that people who put themselves in danger to protect others deserve specific recognition under Victorian sentencing law.
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