The Nationals’ Member for Mildura, Jade Benham, has backed The Nationals’ $100 million Safer Communities Plan to crack down on crime and restore safety across Victoria.
The Nationals have unveiled a comprehensive plan to crack down on crime and make Victorian communities safer.
“Labor’s soft-on-crime approach is failing all Victorians,” Ms Benham said.
The Safer Communities Plan will introduce tough new laws alongside targeted prevention programs to make a real difference in every community.
The plan builds on The Nationals’ Break Bail, Face Jail policy, ensuring offenders face real consequences. Key initiatives include:
- Jack’s Law for Victoria – giving police powers to conduct random searches in public areas to remove weapons such as machetes from our streets.
- Restart – a Victorian-first residential responsibility and discipline program for serious and repeat offenders.
- Youthstart – co-ordinated community-based interventions to help at-risk young people make better choices.
Ms Benham said the Allan Labor Government had cut youth crime prevention funding from nearly $13 million a year under the previous Liberal Nationals Government to just $541,000 annually over the past three years.
“Families in Mildura and across Victoria should be able to feel safe at home, in their neighbourhoods and out in public. Our plan ensures offenders face real consequences, while also giving young people the guidance, support and opportunities they need to change their path.”
“Youth crime continues to rise, yet Labor has abandoned prevention programs and refused to strengthen weak bail laws. The Nationals have a clear plan to restore community safety. Regional Victorians should not have to bear the cost of Labor’s failures.
Labor can’t manage crime and regional Victorians are paying the price.”
Media contact: Alana McGregor (03) 5021 2828
