Harsher punishment for disrespectful behaviour in court, naming and shaming repeat youth offenders and a maximum security prison are among solutions to Victoria’s crime problems being advocated by state Opposition Leader Matthew Guy.
The state government’s response to crime, and youth crime in particular, has been under the microscope following repeated rioting at detention centres and a recent break-out at Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre.
In response to the January break-out, the government earmarked Werribee South for a $288 million high-security youth prison, but the announcement has generated a public backlash, with thousands of people staging a protest in Werribee’s main street on February 13.
Mr Guy joined the chorus of criticism when he visited Kyneton and Sunbury last Tuesday. He vowed to overhaul youth justice legislation, if elected, to include 17 policies that would tighten bail and parole laws and “restore respect” to Victoria’s justice system.
He said he would make it an offence to show disrespect in court, deport violent criminals who were not citizens, reinstate Neighbourhood Watch funding and extend existing prisons to hold maximum-security youth offenders.
“The whole justice system is not working,” Mr Guy told
Star Weekly.
“Our state is in the grip of a crime tsunami and the government has no solutions to make Victoria safe.
“It has become a national conversation about how bad crime is in Victoria and it needs to stop.
“More police are only due to hit the streets in two more years … but crime has changed dramatically in the past year and we need a system that supports that change in crime.”
Mr Guy asked whether the government had considered using existing prisons to house the maximum-security youth justice unit or approached regional towns that would welcome the economic benefits of having a youth justice facility.
Families and Children Minister Jenny Mikakos did not respond to
Star Weekly’s inquiries but stood by the plans for Werribee South this month.
“The previous Liberal government put these reforms in the too hard basket and ignored Ombudsman reports calling for a new youth justice facility,” she said.
“We are getting on with building a fit-for-purpose, high-security facility that is more secure and will address capacity issues for years to come.”
