Tuesday, 9 September 2025

Youth crime

Brad BATTIN (Berwick – Leader of the Opposition) (14:19): My question is to the Premier. Detective Inspector Graham Banks recently stated that Victoria’s penalties for youth offending ‘aren’t in balance with what community expectations are or mine’. Police Commissioner Mike Bush subsequently endorsed him, saying that Banks:

… said what many of us think … about the penalties which are being handed down in our courts for our worst youth offenders. He has my full support.

Can the Premier confirm whether the police commissioner has spoken on her behalf, or is the Premier at odds with the police on this issue?

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:20): No-one speaks for commissioner Mike Bush other than Chief Commissioner Mike Bush, and it says a lot about the reckless behaviour of the Leader of the Opposition that he would think otherwise. However, it is symptomatic of a pattern of behaviour. When Liberals are in government, they undermine the office of the Chief Commissioner of Police. We have seen it time –

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the Premier is debating the question.

The SPEAKER: I ask the Premier to come back to the question.

Jacinta ALLAN: I remind the Leader of the Opposition of section 10 of the police act, which those of us on this side of the house will honour and respect. The Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police speaks for himself, and I respect that. Beyond that, in respecting the work of the men and women of Victoria Police, we give them the resources they need, the support they need and the powers they need. We do not undermine them with this ongoing campaign of misinformation.

Brad Battin: On a point of order, Speaker, you have got to be factual in your answers when answering, particularly in relation to the fact that we have 1100 vacancies on rosters, 43 stations that are closed or have reduced hours –

The SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat.

Brad Battin: and more people dying on the streets with the increase in crime than we have ever seen in the entire history of this state.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Laverton can leave the chamber for half an hour.

Member for Laverton withdrew from chamber.

The SPEAKER: I ask you to resume your seat when I ask you to resume your seat, Leader of the Opposition. You are not immune from being removed from the chamber, and I do not want to remove you from the chamber. Respect goes a long way in this chamber. There is no point of order.

Jacinta ALLAN: When it comes to supporting the Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police, I want to read this quote:

He’s had an opportunity to come out, I think it’s now getting to a stage that it’s … getting too long that the new chief commissioner, you can’t just come in and take the pay …

That is from the Leader of the Opposition. That is the Leader of the Opposition undermining the Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police. This reckless behaviour should be condemned, and I absolutely condemn it.

James Newbury interjected.

The SPEAKER: The member for Brighton can leave the chamber for half an hour.

Member for Brighton withdrew from chamber.

Brad BATTIN (Berwick – Leader of the Opposition) (14:23): Will the Premier commit to immediately strengthening penalties for violent youth offending so that they align with both police and community expectations?

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:23): My commitment is to supporting the work of Victoria Police. My commitment is to taking the advice from Victoria Police, not from someone who, by his own reckless behaviour, is prepared to go and stand next to dead bodies to conduct a press conference.