Wednesday, 17 June 2026

 Ann-Marie HERMANS (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (19:04): (2599) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Police, and the action I seek is for the minister to outline what steps the government is taking to genuinely address failing bail laws, rising crime – especially youth crime – and to get machetes off the streets in this state. Last sitting week I spoke about a terrifying brawl that had broken out in a shopping centre in Clyde North. It involved four teenage boys who brandished weapons, including a hockey stick, a baseball bat, an ASP baton and a machete. Two of these boys were seriously injured, one of whom was left with a fractured skull, bleeding in his brain and blindness in his left eye. Doctors say he will be lucky if he regains even 20 per cent of his vision. He is left with a lifelong disability. This is a horrific outcome for anyone, let alone a teenager with their whole life ahead of them. Yet how is this life-altering crime dealt with under the Allan–Carroll–Williams Labor government? That is right: by granting the perpetrators bail, and sometimes bail is granted within hours or even the next day. Even the magistrate who presided over the boys’ hearing was in shock over their actions, labelling it as an outrageous conduct. He said:

Who would have thought that would occur in modern society?

That is no longer an isolated incident. It’s no longer exceptional. What was unusual, exceptional, and isolated has now become commonplace and prevalent.

He could not be more right. Just last month in my area, two teenage boys were granted bail after firebombing a Keysborough factory. Grassroots rumours suggest these youths are being paid large sums of money to burn down buildings. Barely a week later one of them was back in custody after assaulting an off-duty police officer.

It is the same story over and over and over again, and Victorians, quite frankly, are sick of it. Minister, how would you feel if it was your livelihood that was firebombed? How about if it was your child that was left with injuries after being attacked – permanent injuries? I am fairly certain that you would not even be able to sleep knowing that the offender is out there walking free. Yet this Labor government has made it clear that under their governance Victorians can never be safe. Only a Wilson-led Liberal government will strengthen bail laws to put victims ahead of criminals and ensure that when young offenders commit serious crimes they face real consequences that match community expectations and the opportunity to reform.