Brad Battin isn’t easing up on crime. At a press conference last night, the Victorian Opposition Leader returned to familiar territory—law and order—but this time with sharper edges and a blunt message: if elected in 2026, bail breaches will carry mandatory jail time.
“People are gaming the system,” he told reporters. “Repeat offenders know there are no real consequences. We’re changing that. If you break bail, you go to jail.”
Battin was speaking at the Victorian Liberal Party Multicultural Press Conference, held in the Liberal Room at Parliament House. The event drew more than 40 journalists from Victoria’s ethnic media, reflecting the growing interest in how crime, safety, and justice are playing out in multicultural communities. Several other Liberal MPs were present at the session.
The plan is framed as a direct response to escalating concerns across growth corridors and inner suburbs, where residents have expressed frustration over street violence, repeat youth offending, and a perceived loss of safety. Battin, a former police officer himself, argued that the current government has made it harder for Victoria Police to act decisively, blaming political interference for low morale and high attrition among senior officers.
“There’s been a quiet exodus of leadership. When senior police lose independence, operational capability suffers,” he said. “That undermines public trust.”
Battin also pointed to his own background in law enforcement, noting that he has spent time in the UK studying community policing models and best-practice interventions. “I’ve walked the beat, both here and overseas,” he said. “In places like Manchester, they’ve trialled models where community engagement and visible police presence drastically reduced youth crime. We’ve got the data—we just need the political will.”
He continued, “When I was a cop, I saw firsthand how a stable officer presence in a neighbourhood builds relationships that stop crime before it starts. It’s not just about arresting people. It’s about getting in early, identifying the signs, and working with families and schools.”
Battin shared a personal anecdote from his time in the force, involving a mother whose teenage son had been arrested three times in as many months. “She came into the station crying—not because her son was locked up, but because no one had ever pulled her aside to explain what help was out there,” he said. “That’s the gap. We need more community liaison officers who speak the language—literally and culturally—so we can work with families before it’s too late.”
Pressed on specific measures, Battin pledged to bolster frontline police numbers and fast-track equipment upgrades. He also promised a return to successful early intervention programs, such as Operation Newstart, that focused on preventing disengaged teens from entering the criminal justice system.
The night’s message wasn’t just punitive. Battin outlined a dual approach: stricter enforcement alongside more targeted prevention. “We’re not just about locking people up,” he said. “But the consequences need to be real.”
Other issues touched upon included Victoria’s mounting debt—”$1.2 million an hour in interest alone”—and the party’s pledge to abolish stamp duty for first-home buyers purchasing under $1 million. But even housing took a backseat to what Battin painted as the state’s number one concern: safety.
“It’s the one issue I hear in every corner of Victoria—from Pakenham to Werribee to Shepparton. Families don’t feel safe. That’s unacceptable.”
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