The Victorian Greens have slammed Labor for putting children as young as fourteen at risk of life in prison, calling it a prime example of how the Government has lost its way and set its priorities backwards.
The new laws allow children as young as fourteen to receive life sentences. The Greens warn they will do nothing to make communities safer and will, in fact, increase reoffending.
All the evidence shows early contact with the criminal justice system and longer, harsher sentences worsen long-term outcomes. Like Labor's bail laws, these changes will disproportionately harm First Nations communities.
The Greens say that Labor trying to liken their approach to cities around the world that have successfully reduced crime is misleading and false.
Cities around the world that have successfully reduced violence have not relied on tougher sentencing. They adopted whole-of-system public health approaches - investing in early intervention, youth services, housing, healthcare and community support to address the drivers of crime before harm occurs.
Meanwhile in Victoria, crime prevention funding has been cut in recent years, public housing stock has been demolished, and frontline homelessness, mental health and drug and alcohol services are overwhelmed.
Peak bodies including VCOSS, Homelessness Victoria and the Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association have warned that services cannot meet rising demand, with homelessness services turning people away and long waitlists for treatment.
As stated by the Victorian Greens justice spokesperson, Katherine Copsey:
"Labor's doubling down on failed policies that won't make the community any safer. All the evidence shows longer, harsher sentences worsen long-term outcomes. And just like Labor's bail laws, these changes will disproportionately harm First Nations communities.
"Labor isn't taking lessons from the evidence overseas, they're taking lessons from the Liberals. Literally copy-pasting this policy from the Liberals in Queensland.
"Labor is doing the opposite of what has worked overseas by cutting prevention, frontline healthcare services, and public housing, all to pay for costly punitive policies that don't work.
"Real safety starts with stable housing, access to healthcare and mental health support and it means acting now to prevent harm before it happens. We need Labor to stop playing politics with community safety and do what actually works."
