Victoria’s Opposition has accused Premier Jacinta Allan of offering a “fake fix” to youth crime, claiming her new Adult Time for Violent Crime laws are a “watered-down imitation” of Queensland’s tougher reforms.
Shadow Attorney-General James Newbury said the policy, announced by Premier Allan and Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny this week, was more about headlines than real change. “Fixing Victoria’s crime crisis takes more than a cheap imitation of real reform. Labor’s announcement is designed for headlines, not outcomes,” he said.
Under the Victorian plan, offenders aged 14 and over who commit serious violent crimes such as aggravated home invasion, machete attacks or aggravated carjacking will face adult courts and longer jail sentences. But the Opposition argues the scope of the policy is too narrow, targeting just eight offences compared to Queensland’s 33 under its Making Queensland Safer (Adult Crime, Adult Time) laws.
“When you look at what Labor’s left out, it’s staggering—home invasion gets tougher penalties, but rape doesn’t. Why?” Mr Newbury said. “The Premier has no credibility when it comes to fighting crime and Victorians can’t trust her ‘adult time for violent crime’ to deliver what she promises.”
The Opposition says Queensland’s model covers a wider range of offences, including murder, rape, kidnapping, arson, grievous bodily harm and dangerous driving. By contrast, Victoria’s version applies only to aggravated home invasion, home invasion, gross violence offences, aggravated carjacking, carjacking, aggravated burglary and repeated armed robberies.
Mr Newbury said the difference reveals a lack of seriousness in tackling violent crime. “Labor’s announcement has been stripped of substance. It looks tough but fails to address the full range of violent offences putting Victorians at risk,” he said.
The Allan Government has defended its plan as part of a broader Serious Consequences—Early Interventions strategy to reduce violent youth crime and prioritise community safety. Premier Allan said the laws will mean “more violent youth offenders going to jail, facing serious consequences.”
But the Opposition maintains that only a change of government will deliver a justice system Victorians can trust. “It’s time for a fresh start—only a Liberals and Nationals government will deliver a safer, stronger Victoria where families live free from fear,” Mr Newbury said.
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