Wednesday, 12 November 2025

 Brad BATTIN (Berwick – Leader of the Opposition) (14:09): My question is to the Premier. According to Victoria Police, there were 14 deaths from serious collisions involving stolen vehicles last financial year. This was 14 deaths as the Premier continued to say, ‘More needs to be done.’ Premier, don’t Victorians deserve better than this tired, old, slow government that is responsible for the crime crisis in this state?

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:09): I once again thank the Leader of the Opposition for the opportunity to talk about the plan we have put in place to introduce adult time for violent crime for those serious, violent and brazen offences that are causing such great concern to our community.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, can I take you to standing order 58(1)(a). The Premier is required to be factual. The Premier just used the sentence ‘a plan she has put in place’. There is no bill drafted. What plan is in place? Posters do not count. The Premier is required to be factual.

The SPEAKER: There is an expectation that all members who contribute to this place will be factual.

Jacinta ALLAN: As I was saying, our plan to introduce adult time for violent crime comes from listening to the experiences of victims who have made it clear that there need to be serious consequences for this brazen and violent offending. It also comes from listening to, working with and supporting the work of Victoria Police, who are out there working hard every single day. Indeed it is about listening to the experiences of Victoria Police, who tell us that this is a new kind of crime that requires new and constant interventions to be made.

The Leader of the Opposition referred to culpable driving causing death. That is already a matter, the Attorney advises, that goes to the County Court, and we will be adding to that list with our plan for adult time for violent crime. It comes as a result of listening to victims of crime; it also comes as a result of working with Victoria Police. It also comes off the work that we have done over the course of this year in understanding that this new type of crime that is causing concern in the community does require constant and new interventions. It is why we have toughened the bail laws, which those opposite of course opposed in this place. Those tougher bail laws are working, and we have seen an increase in the number of people in jail, not out on bail.

We have also introduced electronic monitoring for young offenders and introduced post-and-boast powers. Listening to Victoria Police saw us introduce the ban on machetes and expand our stop-and-search knife powers that have, as a combination, seen us get more than 25,000 of these dangerous weapons off our streets. Again, as I noted that those opposite opposed the bail laws, they have also undermined the good work of Victoria Police by undermining the machete ban.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the Premier is clearly debating the question. The question was very specific, and this weak Premier has no place to be lecturing anybody.

The SPEAKER: I remind the Premier not to discuss the opposition.

Jacinta ALLAN: I know it is an uncomfortable fact for the Shadow Attorney-General that he and his colleagues opposed the toughening of bail laws and have not supported the machete ban as well.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the Premier is defying your ruling.

The SPEAKER: Premier, come back to the question.

Jacinta ALLAN: That list of actions that I have just gone through over the course of this year has come as a result of listening to Victoria Police, working with Victoria Police and listening too to victims of crime, and we have more laws and more changes that will be coming to this place to keep the community safe and continue to support the work of Victoria Police.

 Brad BATTIN (Berwick – Leader of the Opposition) (14:14): Vehicle thefts have increased by 39 ‍per cent year on year. One traffic officer said, ‘It’s every night. It’s mainly the kids thrillseeking.’ Premier, why is dangerous driving causing death not considered an adult crime under Labor’s watered-down version of ‘adult crime, adult time’?

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:15): Again, as I said in my answer to the earlier question – and I thank the Leader of the Opposition for again having the opportunity to outline the details that our government is taking to strengthen police powers, to keep Victorians safe and to introduce adult time for violent crime – as was advised earlier, culpable driving causing death is already a matter that goes before the County Court. The Leader of the Opposition –

Brad Battin: On a point of order, Speaker, this was a very direct question around dangerous driving causing death, not culpable driving. If the Attorney-General would like an explanation on it, I am more than happy to send it through.

The SPEAKER: The Premier was being relevant to the question that was asked.

Jacinta ALLAN: Quite frankly, I will take the advice of my Attorney-General over the Leader of the Opposition every day of the week. I will also say this to the Leader of the Opposition: I will take the advice of the Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police over his every day of the week. Finally, I will also listen and take the views of victims of crime over the Leader of the Opposition.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The member for Warrandyte and the member for Polwarth are both warned. The member for Evelyn is warned.

Sarah Connolly interjected.

The SPEAKER: Member for Laverton, you can leave the chamber for half an hour.

Member for Laverton withdrew from the chamber.