Premier Jacinta Allan has doubled down on her government’s commitment to law and order, anti-racism legislation, and support for Victoria’s multicultural communities. She has positioned her government as acting decisively in contrast to an opposition she accused of “walking away from history.”
Speaking alongside Minister for Multicultural Affairs Ingrid Stitt, Premier Allan opened by giving considerable focus to law and order, detailing the Victorian Parliament’s passage of the “toughest bail laws in Australia.”
These include prioritising community safety in all bail decisions, new offences for breaching bail, and a clampdown on serious crimes such as aggravated burglary, home invasions and car-jackings.
“These are not just reforms; they are a jolt to the system,” Allan said, responding to rising public concern about repeat offenders.
“We’ve listened to victims, to people whose lives were shattered by violent crime.”
She revealed that corrections facilities are being prepared to handle increased remand numbers, indicating her expectation that tougher bail criteria will result in more offenders being held in custody pre-trial.
Australia’s first machete ban was also introduced, prompted by growing community fears over violent youth crime.
Premier Allan said,
“There is no place for such dangerous weapons in our streets or shopping centres.”
Delayed responses to Hindu Temple attacks spark concern: Premier Allan was also pressed on Victoria Police’s slow response to recent acts of vandalism targeting Hindu temples. Acknowledging the frustration within the Hindu community, Allan pledged stronger coordination with police and recognised that anti-Hindu incidents must be treated with the same urgency as other hate crimes.
“Whether it’s Islamophobia, anti-semitism or attacks on Hindu Temples, it’s all the same, it’s all hateful behavior that needs to be dealt with and needs to be prosecuted,”
she said.
She also stressed the need to look at what additional support must be provided to communities, because an attack on a temple strikes at the very heart of their faith, religion, and cultural practice.
“To me, that is absolutely unacceptable and does need a strong response from Victoria Police.”
Tackling hate: Anti-vilification laws and a divided Parliament – Premier Allan highlighted the recent passage of anti-vilification and social cohesion legislation as a “historic step” in criminalising hate speech and strengthening protections for marginalised communities.
“Whether you’re a Sikh boy in a turban, a Jewish child on their way to school, or a woman in a hijab – you deserve safety,” she said.
“Hateful speech that leads to violence is not freedom of speech – it’s a crime.”
She praised Victoria’s multicultural communities for being united in support of the laws but accused the state Liberal Party of putting “peace in their party room ahead of peace in our streets” for opposing the legislation.
Combating youth crime and supporting disengaged communities: In response to questions about root causes of crime, Allan cited social media, cost-of-living pressures, and post-COVID disconnection as major contributors to youth disengagement.
She reiterated her government’s focus on diversion and rehabilitation, saying,
“We’re grabbing young people early, supporting them with education, free TAFE, and job pathways.”
The Premier confirmed that new youth justice reforms include rehabilitation beginning at the point of remand, not incarceration.
Jobs and economy: A vision for growth: Turning to the broader economy, Premier Allan stressed job creation and economic resilience as top priorities. She highlighted Victoria’s infrastructure pipeline, advanced manufacturing sector, and medical research as key growth areas.
In response to U.S. tariffs under President Trump, she promised to help exporters find new markets and boost local supply chains.
“If Trump doesn’t want our beef, we’ll find markets that do,”
Allan declared.
Premier Allan concluded with a strong message: “The best relationships are the ones where we keep working together. We’ve passed laws, but now it’s about continuing the work through education, support, and strong government action.”
She said, Victoria remains committed to being the most multicultural, inclusive, and safe state in Australia — but warned that unity, social cohesion and safety require vigilance and political will.
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