Even Labor MPs are at a loss over the Victorian premier’s ‘tough love’ plan for youth offenders
Summary
Victorian Premier Ben Carroll announced a $204 million plan to detain children who commit low- or mid-level offences in secure facilities for schooling, treatment and life-skills programs. Aboriginal advocates, legal groups, union leaders and some Labor MPs criticized the proposal, while polls cited in the story showed Labor trailing the Coalition on crime and recording low primary-vote figures.Key Facts
- The plan would send children who commit low- or mid-level offences to secure facilities, including the former Malmsbury youth justice centre.
- Carroll said children involved in offences such as carrying knives or trying to steal cars could face detention under the plan.
- Meena Singh, a former Victorian commissioner for Aboriginal children and young people, said detention should not be presented as therapy and argued that trauma can contribute to offending.
- The Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service described the plan as mandatory sentencing, while the Justice Reform Initiative called it disproportionate.
- Trades Hall secretary Luke Hilakari criticized the proposal and argued that the government should address disadvantage rather than deepen it.
- A DemosAU poll put Labor’s primary vote at 18%, while a RedBridge poll put it at 23% and said Labor trailed the Coalition by 18 points on crime.
- Labor MPs expressed concern that the plan could benefit the Liberals, especially as the government faced criticism over rising crime and police station closures.
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