Youth crime
Moira DEEMING (Western Metropolitan) (17:36): (315) I am proud to announce that my work experience student Joshua wrote this adjournment debate for me. My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Youth Justice. What strategies does this government have in place to address the increasing rates of youth violence? In the last 12 months youth crime in Victoria involving individuals from the ages of 10 to 14 has increased by a staggering 44.6 per cent. Burglaries committed by the same age group have increased by a staggering 86.7 per cent. In fact the demographic most likely to commit aggravated home robbery is minors aged 15 to 17. We need a comprehensive strategy to identify the reasons behind this shocking increase in youth crime and to find a way to successfully divert young people away from a pathway of crime. We need to identify these young people at risk of criminal involvement and help guide them back to focusing on a better future for themselves and our state, and that means getting them back to school to learn maths, science, English and all the other skills they will need to get good jobs. This government needs to get serious about helping young people to avoid crime and criminal gangs, and shutting down youth justice centres like Malmsbury is pointless without preventative actions. What will the minister do?