Tuesday, 9 September 2025

Youth crime

Brad BATTIN (Berwick – Leader of the Opposition) (14:10): My question is to the Premier. Detective Inspector Graham Banks has stated that Victoria’s penalties for violent youth offending ‘aren’t in balance with what community expectations are or mine’. Does the Premier agree?

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:11): I want to say very clearly that obviously no crime is acceptable, and when it comes to this senseless act of violence that has resulted in the murder of two young people, we all want to see justice in this instance. I also make the –

Brad Battin: On a point of order, Speaker, in relation to relevance, this was not about a specific incident. Graham Banks has come out saying that community expectations are not in line with what they should be for violent offences here in Victoria. Does the Premier agree, yes or no?

The SPEAKER: Order! What is your point of order?

Brad Battin: Relevance.

Mary-Anne Thomas: Speaker, there is no point of order. The Premier has been on her feet for less than 20 seconds. The opposition leader is continuing to use points of order to restate the question, which is out of order, and I ask that you rule him out of order.

The SPEAKER: The Premier has only been on her feet for a short time. The Premier to come back to the question.

Jacinta ALLAN: I want to be clear that we support the work of Victoria Police on this side of the house. We support the work, and that is demonstrated by the resourcing we provide Victoria Police and by the additional powers we give Victoria Police but also in the way that we do not undermine the work of Victoria Police, like too much reckless behaviour that we see opposite.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! Leader of the House! Member for Nepean! The member for Nepean and the Leader of the House will leave the chamber for half an hour.

Member for Nepean and Leader of the House withdrew from chamber.

Jacinta ALLAN: Of course the Leader of the Opposition knows that sentencing is a matter for the courts, and this government, my government, has made it absolutely clear to all decision-makers across the justice system – the courts, the police – that community safety must come first in all of their decisions.

Brad Battin: On a point of order, Speaker, in relation to relevance, all sentencing actually starts from the legislation that is put through the Victorian Parliament. The government have a responsibility to ensure that the sentencing is in line with community expectations. If the Premier cannot do that, then that is a major problem for safety here in Victoria.

The SPEAKER: That is not a point of order. That is not the correct way to make a point of order.

Tim Richardson interjected.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Member for Mordialloc can leave the chamber for half an hour, speaking of respect.

Member for Mordialloc withdrew from chamber.

Ben Carroll: On a point of order, Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition asked an opinion about a quote that he gave to the Premier. I question if that is government business, asking the Premier for an opinion.

The SPEAKER: The Premier was being relevant to the question that was asked. I cannot direct the Premier how to answer a question. The Premier was being relevant. The Premier has concluded her answer.

Brad BATTIN (Berwick – Leader of the Opposition) (14:14): Detective Inspector Graham Banks also stated:

The policing position’s always been that there needs to be a strong deterrent for this type of behaviour …

Will the Premier commit to immediately strengthening penalties for violent youth offending to bring them in line with community expectations and to ensure strong deterrents are in place?

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:15): It is important that in answering the question I be very careful, because as I said in my earlier answer, there is a current police investigation underway searching for the perpetrators, people who murdered two young boys.

Brad Battin: On a point of order, Speaker, in relation to relevance, this was not about any specific event. The police have come out and said that they need to have the powers and they need to have a strong deterrent for this type of behaviour here in Victoria when we are talking about violent crimes. If the Premier does not want to answer that, that is a decision for her.

The SPEAKER: That is not a point of order.

Jacinta ALLAN: The question was clearly framed around comments that were made in regard to the violent murder of two young boys on the weekend, and there are already under our sentencing arrangements the harshest of penalties for people who commit murder. There are already the toughest of penalties for people who commit murder, and that is why we will continue to support Victoria Police in their investigation to bring justice in this case.