After weakening bail laws last year, “reforms” to the youth justice system which passed through the Victorian Parliament today are more evidence the Allan Labor Government is buckling under mounting pressure from the Opposition and fed-up communities across the state.
Premier Jacinta Allan said the changes were proof Labor was taking “strong and decisive action” on youth crime; a claim that has been slammed by The Nationals’ Member for Morwell, Martin Cameron.
“The Premier is calling these amendments ‘transformational’, but really Labor is just in part reinstating the same measures it removed last year when it nonsensically weakened bail laws,” Mr Cameron said.
Some of the amendments include reinstating the crime of committing an offence while on bail; giving police greater powers to revoke bail; and scrapping plans to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 14 by 2027.
“These amendments do address what is being requested of the government by the family of the late Dr Ashley Gordon in their petition, but there is a lot more work to be done to properly address the youth crime crisis that is sweeping the state,” Mr Cameron said.
“Labor needs to increase police stop and search powers, particularly with the concerning prevalence of young people carrying concealed weapons and the dire consequences this is having on community safety.
“Already, three lives have been senselessly lost because of weakened bail laws, and that’s three lives too many.
“If Jacinta Allan is serious about addressing the crisis her government has created, there must also be a renewed focus on filling the 800 vacancies within Victoria Police, reversing the funding cuts made to prevention programs, and ensuring victims and their families are heard.
“Labor can’t manage money, can’t manage the youth justice system, and Victorians are paying the price.”
