Wednesday, 29 July 2026

 Paul HAMER (Box Hill – Minister for Local Government, Minister for Youth Justice, Minister for Corrections) (14:14): Every Victorian deserves to feel safe and be safe, whether that is at home, at work or in the community, and that is why this year’s budget has invested $1.7 billion to keep Victorians safe – new funding for our hardworking Victoria Police, new funding for emergency services and new funding for the justice system. In my portfolios that means investing in the capacity we need in our corrections and youth justice systems to make sure that serious offenders face serious consequences, like the Western Plains Correctional Centre and the Cherry Creek youth justice facility, designed and built by and now operating under this Labor government. That is more than 1200 new beds added to our corrections and youth justice facilities, and we are making the best use of these facilities. Thanks to the changes we have already made, bail refusals and bail revocations are at record highs, meaning real consequences for breaching bail conditions. Adult time for violent crime means young offenders who commit serious violent offences now face tougher consequences, with more likely and longer sentences. And we are seeing results. The latest statistics show crime is down in Victoria.

We know there is more to do, and we are getting on with it. The Premier has been clear that Victoria Police will get the resources it needs, and we are delivering the resources the corrections and youth justice systems need to hold people to account, with serious consequences for serious offending. Make no mistake, we have been scaling up the corrections and youth justice systems. Over the last two budgets we have invested in more beds, more corrections officers, more youth justice workers and more programs and supports to stop reoffending. More than 1000 beds have been opened across the corrections and youth justice systems. These systems are designed to hold offenders to account while supporting people to find better pathways for their rehabilitation, because that is what makes Victorians safer now and into the future.