Crime in Melbourne’s west has become the centre of a sharp political exchange, with Opposition Leader Brad Battin and Werribee MP John Lister trading blows over how residents’ concerns are being treated. What began as a local debate has intensified into a broader argument about policing.
Battin moved early, accusing Lister of brushing aside people who have been speaking up about repeat break-ins, car thefts and youth offending. His criticism drew on the MP’s own recorded remarks. “Labor MP for Werribee John Lister says locals are just ‘whingeing’ about crime. They’re not whingeing, John—they’re worried about the record high crime rate in our state. These are real concerns from real people who deserve a government that takes their safety seriously. They’re not getting that under Labor.”
He doubled down on the floor of Parliament, where he said: “This House condemns the Member for Werribee for dismissing and trivialising community concerns about Victoria’s growing crime crisis.” The Opposition Leader used Lister’s video as evidence of the government’s attitude, repeating the MP’s words back to him: “We don’t just bleat about crime and try to stir fear in communities like mine. This issue is far too important to post all over Facebook or call up 3AW and whinge about.” Battin ended his message with a direct appeal to locals. “Hey, Werribee. You’re local MP, he doesn’t think that crime’s an issue. If you want crime to be seriously addressed here in Victoria, only a Liberal government can do it.”
Lister rejected the characterisation, describing the attack as a distraction from the broader challenges facing the region. “The Liberals have spent more time talking about me, rather than working with locals on challenges in the community.” He argued that his comments had been taken out of context and said the focus should remain on what supports victims and prevents further harm. “Labor is on the side of victims and the wider community, and adult time for violent crime makes it clear that the new type of offending we have seen is unacceptable.”
Lister’s supporters say he was pointing out that some politicians use crime to stir fear rather than engage constructively with policy solutions. Battin’s supporters say residents feel unheard and want a firmer response from government.
Crime data in the Werribee district has shown rises in various categories this year, though the picture differs depending on offence type and suburb. The trend has fuelled community frustration, particularly as high-profile incidents involving youths gain widespread attention.
Battin has made public safety a central theme of his leadership, and Labor MPs are wary of letting the Opposition frame the debate in fast-growing electorates. Residents are left wondering what will change and how quickly, as both sides point to different answers for the same set of concerns.
Wyndham Council has been trialling new approaches to ease pressure on police and improve visibility in busy areas. In Truganina, the after-hours security patrol program now runs through the night, with marked vehicles recording incidents and passing information to Victoria Police. The trial is designed to give residents a sense of presence in public spaces at a time of rising concern about youth offending and property crime. While the patrols have no powers of arrest, the council argues they offer a practical way to gather information, support police work and test methods suited to suburbs where rapid growth has reshaped daily life.
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