You've actually summarized pretty well, Mr. Norlock, what these people go through, and that's what they tell me. The hell never ends. There's no closure. It simply goes on and on and on, applications. And as you say, in cases where there might be multiple murderers, it never ends and there's no closure, and it's wrong. It's wrong that these people have to go through this. To the extent that it's possible that we as a Parliament can place greater emphasis on victims and the law-abiding citizens of this country, we are on the right track.
I've told this committee before how pleased I was to appoint the first federal ombudsman for victims of crime. We're sending out the message that the interests of people who are victims are a priority. I want them to know that, and I want them to know that by passage of a piece of legislation like that, we are responding to those individuals who have been caught up in this vortex. Again, this is a step, and it is a very reasonable step in the right direction. I think it sends out the correct message.
The byproduct of it as well, quite apart from everything else, is that I believe it increases people's confidence in the criminal justice system. It actually hurts the criminal justice system when people read in the paper about an individual who they thought was gone for 25 years is now in court making the case to be let out on the street. It hurts the administration of justice in this country. To the extent that we combat that, we are living up to our responsibility as legislators. I have no doubt of that whatsoever.