Wednesday, 12 November 2025

 Brad BATTIN (Berwick – Leader of the Opposition) (14:01): My question is to the Premier. Can the Premier explain why she prioritised spending taxpayers money on producing a slogan and flashy backdrop to announce a watered-down version of the Queensland LNP’s ‘adult crime, adult time’ policy, a policy that has yet to be drafted with legislation to keep Victorians safe?

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:02): I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the opportunity to talk about my government’s plan, which has resulted from listening to victims of crime, who have made it very clear there are not enough consequences for young offenders.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, the Premier’s poster is not a plan.

The SPEAKER: There is no point of order.

Jacinta ALLAN: Once again I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the opportunity to talk about our plan that has come as a result of listening to victims of crime, hearing their horrifying experiences and having them make it very clear that there are not enough consequences. That is why Victoria will be introducing adult time for violent crime, where the courts will be treating children who commit these crimes as adults.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the Premier does need to be truthful in her remarks. The Premier does not even have a bill, so the Premier is speaking about legislation that does not even exist yet.

The SPEAKER: There is no point of order.

Jacinta ALLAN: Again, our plan to introduce adult time for violent crime will see the courts treat as adults the children who commit this brazen and violent offending, which will see an increased likelihood of jail and longer sentences.

 Brad BATTIN (Berwick – Leader of the Opposition) (14:04): Can the Premier confirm that her watered-down version of ‘adult crime, adult time’ does not apply to youth who commit the following offences: causing serious injury intentionally or recklessly, threats to kill, conduct endangering life, kidnapping, common assault, non-aggravated burglary, theft of a motor vehicle, and destroying or damaging property?

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:05): I once again thank the Leader of the Opposition for the opportunity to talk about our government’s plan to introduce adult time for violent crime. The crimes that we have focused on are those that are not just causing the greatest concern to many victims and the Victorian community but indeed also, as we know from listening to these victims of crime and hearing their experiences, causing injury and trauma. That is why the list that we have identified today ‍–

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the Premier is debating the question. The question went to all of the very, very serious crimes that have not been included in this so-called yet-to-be drafted plan, and that is what the question went to.

The SPEAKER: The Premier is answering the question as it was asked.

Jacinta ALLAN: As I was saying in responding to the opportunity to talk about our plan to introduce adult time for violent crime, we have focused on those crimes that are causing the greatest concern to the victims that we have been listening to, and those victims have made it very clear that they want to see consequences for this behaviour.