In short:
Victoria’s Adult Time for Violent Crime laws now allow 14-year-olds committing serious offences to be sentenced in adult courts, intensifying the youth crime debate in Wyndham. While the state funds multicultural prevention programs, The West Party backs the Coalition’s mentoring plan, highlighting a clear divide between tougher sentencing and early intervention.
Youth Crime Approach Debate Continues
Victoria’s Adult Time for Violent Crime laws are now in force — and they have sharpened the youth crime debate in Wyndham.
Under the Allan Labor Government’s changes, if you are 14 or older and commit serious violent offences such as aggravated home invasion or carjacking, you can be sentenced in an adult court.
That opens the door to far longer jail terms than were previously available in the Children’s Court.
The Children’s Court can impose a maximum three-year jail term for any offence. The County Court can impose up to 25 years for aggravated home invasion and carjacking.
Premier Jacinta Allan says the tougher approach is necessary.
“Under Adult Time for Violent Crime, the chance of jail is stronger, and sentences are longer.”
“There are no easy solutions to youth crime, and the best approach is always to stop crime before it starts.”
“But we absolutely need serious consequences for violent youth crime to protect the community now.”
Supporters say the laws send a clear message that serious violence carries serious consequences and that repeat offenders are old enough to understand the risks.
At the same time, the state government continues to invest heavily in deterrence, including funding multicultural community organisations to engage at-risk young people before they enter the justice system.
The government’s position is that community-led programs, youth engagement and cultural support networks reduce offending before it escalates.
Critics Call For More Early Intervention
But critics argue the current prevention model has not gone far enough.
The West Party has backed the Coalition’s mentoring proposal, which would see reformed criminals working directly with young repeat offenders.
“The government has failed too many of our children. They are falling through the cracks, and falling into a life of crime,” says Paul Hopper.
“The West Party believes we need to prioritise programs that directly intervene into the lives of individual children in order to help them choose community over crime,” he said.
Under the Coalition plan, those who have lived through prison and reform would mentor young offenders in an attempt to break patterns before they spiral.
“Victoria must stop failing our children,” Paul said. “The government’s weak and ineffective policies are failing our children and our community in general.”
While The West Party will not necessarily support every Liberal policy, it is backing this one.
In Wyndham, where residents regularly share CCTV footage and stories of break-ins, youth crime remains one of the most irritating and confronting issues for families.
The divide is now clear: tougher adult sentencing to deter the worst offenders, or deeper, earlier intervention to stop young people getting there in the first place.
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