Ley Brands Melbourne "Crime Capital of Australia" as Opposition Demands Tougher Laws, Police Support
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Opposition Leader Sussan Ley declared Melbourne has transformed from “the most liveable city to the crime capital of Australia” during a Thursday visit to Victoria’s only Police Citizens Youth Club facility, where she called for increased funding for youth intervention programs and criticized both state and federal Labor governments for failing to control rising crime rates.
Speaking at the PCYC St Kilda facility, Ley outlined what she characterized as a deteriorating public safety situation affecting Victorian residents across multiple aspects of daily life.
“You can’t speak to a Victorian these days without a personal story or a personal connection with a victim of crime. That’s how it feels,” Ley said during prepared remarks at the facility.
She continued: “Melbourne has gone from the most liveable city to the crime capital of Australia.”
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Youth Crime Statistics Central to Critique
The opposition leader emphasized rising youth crime rates as a particular concern, linking juvenile offending to broader organized criminal activity.
“Youth crime, unfortunately, is on the rise. But what that means is it attracts illegal gangs, organised crime, and we now hear that illicit tobacco is more lucrative than other drugs like cocaine,” Ley stated.
She highlighted specific concerns about bail system operations: “When you consider that there’s 1,000 young offenders that are cycling through the bail system being released continually onto the streets to commit more crimes, you realise that the Labor government has not got the situation under control.”
Personal Connection to Victoria
Ley shared her personal history with Melbourne to establish credibility on Victorian issues, recalling her time training as an air traffic controller decades ago.
“I love this city. I remember coming here as a teenager and living in Broadmeadows, and I was training to be an air traffic controller at Melbourne Airport. And I walked the streets feeling completely safe,” Ley recounted.
She contrasted that experience with current conditions: “We’re in a city where, unfortunately, the streets are less safe, the train travel is less safe, the shopping malls are” less safe, according to her remarks.
PCYC Funding Emerges as Key Issue
The venue for Ley’s remarks highlighted a stark disparity in youth intervention infrastructure between Victoria and other Australian states, according to Shadow Attorney-General Julian Leeser.
“In New South Wales today there are 67 PCYCs. In my home state of Queensland, there’s 56 PCYCs. And yet, as Julian just indicated, in the great state of Victoria, there’s one,” said Shadow Cabinet Secretary Andrew Wallace, who described his background as a volunteer youth worker.
Leeser, who represents a New South Wales electorate, noted his constituency includes one of 66 PCYCs in that state: “We know they work. We know they play an essential role in helping reduce crime and in bolstering education.”
The Shadow Attorney-General emphasized the organization’s educational programs: “Here at this PCYC they have run a homework club. At the PCYC in my electorate they run sporting activities, they run community activities. They run activities for people who might be falling behind in the education system.”
Funding Gap Highlighted
Wallace, a former volunteer youth worker, emphasized the critical importance of early intervention while noting the St Kilda facility’s precarious financial situation.
“This PCYC is at risk of closing because it gets no funding from either state or federal government, and that is an appalling state of affairs,” Wallace stated.
Ley directly challenged both levels of Labor government to support the facility: “The Premier could ask her good friend, the Prime Minister, for federal funding for this facility, as other states have done with other PCYC models. That’s not happening.”
Three-Pronged Coalition Response
Ley outlined the coalition’s approach to addressing Victoria’s crime concerns, emphasizing support for law enforcement, community safety restoration, and legislative reform.
“What we must do is back the police, restore community safety and toughen our laws,” Ley declared.
She argued structural political change would be necessary to implement these priorities: “If you want a better Melbourne with safer streets, we need to move those Labor governments out because the Liberal Party that I lead will always focus on community safety, on law and order, on backing our police who are stretched to the limit right now and having the tough laws that we need to to keep people safe.”
Victorian Premier Responds
During the subsequent question-and-answer session, journalists noted that Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan had characterized Ley’s comments as “punching down on Victorians” and disputed the opposition leader’s characterization of public safety in Melbourne.
Ley dismissed the Premier’s criticism: “I’m not interested in the rhetoric that the Victorian Premier may come out with. I’m not going to get into any sort of war of words with the Victorian Premier.”
Instead, she doubled down on her critique: “I’m here. We’re here for the people of Victoria because we love this state. We love this city. We know they do.”
Direct Challenge to Premier
Ley posed several pointed questions to the Premier regarding her engagement with crime victims and bail reform.
“Where is the funding, Premier? What are you doing in this critical part of Melbourne to support youth?” Ley asked rhetorically.
She continued: “What are you doing with bail laws that release people onto the streets to re-offend and re-commit crimes? And Premier, how many victims of crime, have you personally met, listened to their stories and understood what has actually happened to them in their lives?”
Police Support Emphasized
When asked specifically what the Victorian government should do, Ley prioritized law enforcement support.
“The first thing that the Victorian government needs to do is support its own police force. They are stretched to the limit. What our police do every day in the face of this crime wave is extraordinary and it deserves recognition and support and funding,” Ley stated.
Housing Policy Criticism
The opposition leader also used the press conference to criticize recently released housing statistics, arguing the government is failing to meet construction targets under its housing accord.
“What they’ve shown is that Labor is failing miserably with its housing accord. It’s 70,000 houses short already,” Ley claimed.
She characterized the gap between government promises and outcomes: “So you hear the promises, you see the big numbers, but the reality is far from that. Labor is building excuses, not building houses.”
Broader Policy Development
When pressed about the coalition’s own policy development timeline, Ley pointed to a recent speech at the CEDAR forum on economic policy where she outlined budget management principles.
“My speech was about managing the budget, living within our means and calling out Labor’s spending, which is escalating rapidly to $1.2 trillion, leaving the next generation with a debt, leaving future generations worse off,” Ley explained.
She emphasized the urgency of fiscal management: “Every minute, it costs $50,000 just to pay the interest on the debt, on Labor’s debt.”
James Patterson Speech Endorsed
Ley confirmed she had advance knowledge of Liberal Senator James Patterson’s speech calling for party unity, which was also delivered this week.
“I read James’ speech. He actually sent it to me before he delivered it,” Ley stated, characterizing it as “excellent reading” that reminds Australians of liberal values backing “aspiration” and “hardworking Australians that want to get ahead and play by the rules.”
Victorian Opposition Leader Relationship
When asked about her relationship with Victorian Liberal leader Brad Battin, a former police officer, Ley deflected questions about any tensions.
“I know Brad. I catch up with him regularly. He’s an outstanding opposition leader. He knows exactly what needs to happen in the state of Victoria,” Ley said.
She suggested the Premier should consult more broadly: “The Premier is well and truly invited to consult me and my team on anything she might wish to around issues that she seems to be struggling with.”
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