Eastern Victoria Region
Melina BATH (Eastern Victoria) (12:49): (1842) My constituency question is for the Minister for Youth Justice. Minister, in 2024 your government committed $6.63 million to expand Victoria Police’s youth crime prevention and early intervention program to high-needs regions including, in my electorate, Latrobe Valley, Shepparton and Mildura. Almost two years later, despite Latrobe Valley’s persistent high youth crime rates and significant community concern, the program still has not been rolled out here. The program has been proven to reduce reoffending by nearly half in other areas where it has been rolled out, saving millions in the justice system and improving outcomes for young people. Hallelujah to that. Latrobe Valley and the broader Gippsland population deserve the same access to early intervention, cautions and diversion pathways, noting how much crime is impacting in our region. Minister, when will the program be operational in Latrobe Valley, and why is there such a delay in this vital program?