Youth crime
Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:38): (1052) My question is to the corrections minister. Minister, in March this year you said:
This initiative complements existing programs such as the South Sudanese Australian youth justice expert working group –
and I note that was established in 2022 –
which provides targeted support to multicultural youth. We back these programs because the evidence shows that they work. By addressing and preventing harmful behaviour we are making our community safer and giving young people a real chance to build a better future for the long term.
Minister, given the horrific attacks on two children who were tragically murdered on the weekend, the community is not safer, harmful behaviour is not being prevented and, tragically, children are dying. Do you now concede that the program is not working?
Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice) (12:39): I thank Ms Crozier for her question. Ms Crozier, again, from the outset I do want to send my deep condolences and sympathies to the families, friends and schoolmates of those children who were lost to this senseless crime. Crime affects everyone in the community, and I think we are all in this place also hurting after what has occurred at Cobblebank, but for you to try and link that to the positive work we are doing out in the community I feel is very unfair and especially very disappointing in light of what has occurred. We do have a strong relationship, and I stand by the work that the South Sudanese expert working group is doing. I talked about this yesterday, the work that these grassroots organisations are delivering – practical, culturally appropriate programs to support young people to live happy, healthy lives in their community. Of course there is always more work to be done, and I am the first to say that, and that is why I am committed – and the Premier has made that clear – to having community solutions, community-led solutions, because we want to empower those communities.
Some examples that I am happy to share and that I talked about include NextGen Unite, an organisation that I was out at with Mr Lee Tarlamis just last week. They are a group that uses music to bring people together in the south-east, and they are connecting with so many young people, having a positive impact on their lives. That is an organisation that is kicking goals, I understand. They would be happy for me to share that they are looking at partnerships with major organisations like the AFL, but it started off with our seed funding – that kind of got them going – and they have been able to professionalise and rise up. There are organisations like Nas Recovery Centre, which is community based, doing culturally appropriate alcohol and drug rehabilitation support. There is case management, working with families in community, delivering real outcomes. Of course there are kids that are falling through the gaps, and I am committed 100 per cent – the whole government is committed – to doing more. We are going to support every community that is affected. Right now the South Sudanese community is hurting, but I will stand with them every and each day of the year.
Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:41): Minister, you are right – that community is hurting. They are suffering, and to hear from the parents of those children was just heartbreaking. The entire Victorian community is suffering as a result of the failures of your government. The Premier said she was reconvening this group, so Minister: how many talkfests do we need before the government does something?
Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice) (12:42): I reject that mischaracterisation of what the Premier has announced. I think the Premier has been very clear that the police commissioner – the new police commissioner – I and the Minister for Police will go out to the community and hear from the community about what solutions they want to see. I think it is clear we have done a lot of work in this space, but there is more to do, and we are committed to doing that work with community-led solutions. We cannot dictate what is the best approach; every community needs an appropriate response, but community safety is always the priority of this government. We have already made a number of legislative changes to strengthen community safety, and we are committed to rolling out further programs to support and wrap around all these communities.