Victorian Liberal Leader Brad Battin has today announced Jack's Law for Victoria and a residential offenders' program as part of a range of anti-crime measures to restore community safety.
In his inaugural address to the Victorian Liberal Party's annual State Council, Mr Battin committed a future Liberal Nationals Government to a $100 million plan to help deliver safer communities across the State.
The plan builds on the signature Break Bail, Face Jail policy that is at the heart of the Liberal and Nationals tough on crime approach.
Break Bail, Face Jail laws will ensure there are consequences for first time and repeat offenders and will now be complemented by:
The introduction of Jack's Law for Victoria
The establishment of Restart - a Victorian-first residential responsibility and discipline program, and
Youthstart - Co-ordinated community-based interventions
Mr Battin said: "Jack's Law will enable police to remove weapons from our streets, including machetes that were at the centre of a gruesome crime last weekend where two young boys were hacked to death.
"Police and PSOs will have the power to use handheld wands in any public place, including train stations, shopping centres, and knife crime hotspots without the need for designations.
"Police need the tools and resources to act so we can restore community safety and let Victorians live free from fear," Mr Battin said.
Brett Beasley, the father of Jack Beazley, after whom Jack's Law is named, said: "I am pleased Brad Battin has committed to introducing Jack's Law for Victoria. It is making a real difference in Queensland, and it will make a real difference in Victoria.
"Jack's Law for Victoria should have been introduced long ago because it would have saved lives," Mr Beasley said.
Jack's Law coupled with Break Bail, Face Jail and the new initiatives Restart and Youthstart announced today will deliver safer communities.
Fixing the crime crisis is not just about deterrence and punishment, it is also about preventing crime by helping at risk individuals make better choices through discipline, education, counselling, and community support.
Restart, the residential responsibility and discipline program and Youthstart which is focussed on prevention will help tackle youth crime through rehabilitation and prevention.
Consequences, personal responsibility, the rule of law, respect for the rights of victims and fiscal discipline are the values that underpin the Liberals and Nationals approach to fighting the crime crisis enveloping our state.
"I am fighting for safer communities where Victorians feel secure in their homes, safe at the shops and on the streets.
"It is no exaggeration to say Communities across Victoria are living in fear. Lawlessness is at crisis levels and crime is impacting every aspect of our lives.
"The Allan Labor Government has abandoned Victorians by refusing to introduce Jack's Law for Victoria, overseeing weak bail laws, failing to restore move-on powers, and a protest registration system and all while underfunding police.
"Only a change in government will deliver a justice system that protects Victorians by being tough on offenders and smart on prevention," Mr Battin said.
THE LIBERALS $100 MILLION SAFER COMMUNITIES PLAN - AT A GLANCE
Jack's Law for Victoria
Police and PSOs will have the power to use handheld wands in any public place, particularly identified knife crime hotspots.
Jack's Law for Victoria will get machete's, knives and other edged weapons off the streets. In Queensland, these powers have taken over 1,200 weapons off the streets. The wands have been used over 122,000 times, leading to over 3,200 arrests. That is proof this works, and proof Victoria needs it now.
Restart - A residential responsibility and discipline program.
It is a structured, live-in program for serious and repeat youth offenders aged between 12 and 17 and will provide a pathway out of crime through discipline, education, counselling, and community support.
The Program will focus participants on respecting the law, finishing school, getting a job and becoming contributors to their community.
Youthstart - Community-based interventions.
Investments in a range of initiatives including Youth Justice Hubs, risk-based diversion, trauma-informed therapy, mentoring, removing young people from toxic environments and family-based case management.
