Friday, 14 November 2025

 James NEWBURY (Brighton) (14:14): My question is to the Attorney. The Attorney has admitted there have been just 32 charges laid under Labor’s child gang recruitment laws and not one conviction. Doesn’t increasing the maximum penalty for a law that has not worked just prove that Labor is about posters and pollsters, not prosecutions?

 Sonya KILKENNY (Carrum – Attorney-General, Minister for Planning) (14:15): I thank the member for Brighton for his question. We have been listening to the commissioner for police. The commissioner for police has been really clear on something that I think we all need to take note of, and that is this disturbing rise in criminal gang activity. We are hearing from organisations – intelligence organisations – that organised crime gangs are recruiting children to conduct their dirty work. This is exploitation. This is exploitation of the worst kind. This is abuse of these children. As we have made clear, we will be addressing this kind of crime by increasing the maximum penalty currently available for this offence under the Crimes Act from 10 years to 15 years. But we are not stopping there.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: I would ask you to cease interjecting across the table, Leader of the Nationals.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, this question was about the fact there has not been a single conviction – not one conviction.

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

Sonya KILKENNY: As I was saying, we are taking steps to increase the maximum penalty for this offence from 10 years to 15 years. But we are not stopping there. I was completely up-front yesterday and said there have been 32 convictions of this charge – sorry, 32 charges and not one conviction. And I am being up-front.

Members interjecting.

Sonya KILKENNY: May I finish, please?

James Newbury: On a point of order, I just want to confirm, Speaker, I think the –

Members interjecting.

James Newbury: Just so that we can check Hansard tomorrow, the Attorney has confirmed not a single conviction.

The SPEAKER: Member for Brighton, there is no point of order.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Brighton!

Sonya KILKENNY: It is interesting: this morning at a media conference I was asked by media whether the Leader of the Opposition should be worried and concerned about the member for Brighton. I answered yes, but not just the Leader of the Opposition – all Victorians should be concerned.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, sledging is unparliamentary.

Sonya KILKENNY: What the Australian criminal intelligence organisation has told us is that there is a very concerning and evolving use of organised crime gangs that are recruiting children using quite sophisticated technology. What we are seeing is that under the current offence we have had 32 charges for those people who recruit children to conduct and undertake criminal activity – 32 charges and so far no convictions. I have been very up-front about that. This is an area that we need to focus on, and everyone in this state should be taking note of the words that the Australian criminal intelligence organisation has put before us. We will be working with Victoria Police, with the commissioner for police, and other experts and stakeholders to ensure that we introduce a new offence to tackle this evolving criminal activity, which I must say also the police commissioner has said is driving so much of this horrendous, very violent offending that we are seeing being committed more and more by children. So we are tackling these issues, not commentating on them by the side.

 James NEWBURY (Brighton) (14:19): Doesn’t the fact there have been not one conviction or draft laws just show that despite the government’s promise of life sentences, this chaotic government is chasing headlines, not crooks?

 Sonya KILKENNY (Carrum – Attorney-General, Minister for Planning) (14:19): As I said yesterday, and as I have said this morning as well, placing a maximum life sentence for an offence is a pretty significant thing for a parliament to do. It is a very significant thing for a parliament to do –

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the Attorney is required to be factual. You cannot apply a sentence through a media release.

The SPEAKER: I am sure the Attorney is being factual, as are all members when they are on their feet.

Sonya KILKENNY: The imposition of a maximum life sentence sends the very strongest message that this Parliament views those kinds of offences as the most abhorrent, that warrant a life sentence. We indicated yesterday that in the case of these organised crime gangs who are recruiting, exploiting, manipulating and abusing children to conduct their dirty work, they will face a life maximum. We will be bringing in those laws before the end of the year. We will be bringing in laws to increase from 10 years to 15 years the maximum penalty and new laws to put in place a maximum of life for these types of offences.