Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has met with leaders from the South Sudanese Australian community to discuss how to address the recent wave of youth violence following the murders of two boys in Cobblebank. She has convened the South Sudanese Australian Youth Justice Expert Working Group to work directly with the community on solutions.
Two boys aged 15 and 12 were killed in a machete attack in Melbourne’s outer-west. The community has been deeply shaken by the violence.
The Premier offered “my profound condolences directly to the families, friends and schoolmates of two children we lost to a senseless crime. One was 15. One was just 12.”
She spoke with John Garang Kon, Chair of the South Sudanese Community of Melton, and Richard Deng, Chair of the South Sudanese Community of Wyndham.
She said “we mourn with them following the loss of two children in a shocking and violent killing. I told them we stand with them in their fight against the cancer of youth gang crime that is breaking their community’s heart.”
More than issuing condolences, Premier Allan is pushing for a collaborative response. She said “To hear firsthand, I am convening the Government’s South Sudanese Australian Youth Justice Expert Working Group. These meetings will take place in the community – and the Minister for Youth Justice, the Minister for Police and Victims and Victoria Police representatives will join.”
“Community leaders are enduring a profound sense of loss and pain. The solutions to the fight against violent crime can’t just be imposed upon the community. They must come from the community. We will stand with them every step of the way to put an end to this scourge.”
This approach builds on what the Expert Working Group and related youth forums have been doing for some time: listening to young South Sudanese Australians about what they face, including experiences of racism, exclusion, lack of opportunity, and challenges accessing support.
But questions remain. Will the new round of community-meetings lead to timely action on policing, bail laws, youth diversion programs, mental health services and education? Will there be adequate resources and trust built with a community that feels under pressure and burdened by fear?
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