Labor Unreliable on Fixing Victoria's Youth Crime Crisis

Liberal Party Victoria
Premier Jacinta Allan's 'adult time for violent crime' announcement today has no legislation and only includes half a dozen offences that would be treated as adult crimes.

Despite repeated warnings about the escalating youth crime crisis, there are now around 1,100 young offenders aged between 10 and 17 responsible for 62 per cent of home invasions.

This comes after previous broken promises and panicked responses from the Premier.

The Premier promised to toughen bail laws, after weakening them, only to see violent offenders continue to be released on bail.

The Premier promised to ban face coverings at protests but later backed away.

The Premier voted down attempts by the Liberals and Nationals in State Parliament to ban machetes, only to do it months later and spent millions on machete disposal bins.

The Premier promised to support early intervention and crime prevention programs, only to later slash funding.

Shadow Minister for Youth Justice, Nicole Werner, said: "The Premier has no credibility when it comes to tackling youth crime, and Victorians can't trust her 'adult time for violent crime' promise to deliver results.

"She has broken promises on face coverings and crime prevention programs and delivered half-baked responses to machetes while failing to restore bail laws to the level before they were weakened.

"Victorians don't believe Labor's spin that it's youth offenders handing in machetes on their way to an aggravated burglary.

"Only a Liberals and Nationals Government will strengthen bail laws with Break bail, Face jail. We will introduce Jack's Law, giving police and PSOs the powers and technology they need to get knives off the streets before tragedy strikes, and invest $100 million through our Safer Communities Plan to prevent crime and support rehabilitation.

"It's time for a Fresh Start. Only the Liberals and Nationals will deliver a safer, stronger Victoria where families can live free from fear, and every young person has a fair shot at a better future."

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