Opposition Pushes for Bail Reform as Hundreds Rally in Bayside Against Crime
Victoria’s Shadow Treasurer James Newbury addressed the crowd.
Victoria Shadow Treasurer James Newbury has continued the state opposition’s pressure on the Labor government to toughen bail laws to deal with crime.
Newbury’s message came at the Bayside Against Crime community rally on Feb. 16, where several hundred residents took to the streets.
The member for Brighten said the lack of action would only embolden youth criminals.
“Last sitting week [in state parliament], we proposed to toughen the bail laws, and we spoke about the need to consider it in a bipartisan way to recognize that there’s a problem,” Newbury told The Epoch Times.
“We wanted to work together to find a solution. And every single Labor member voted against it.
“And what’s worse, it was just after the premier had said to Victoria she recognized there was a problem and she wanted to do something about it.
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The event comes after Shadow Attorney General Michael O’Brien introduced a Bill to amend the Bail Act of 1977, to include stronger penalties for indictable offenses.
But Labor and the Greens voted down the Bill that O’Brien introduced to state parliament on Feb. 6.
Victoria Liberal Member for Brighton and Shadow Treasurer James Newbury addresses local residents at the Bayside Against Crime community rally in Melbourne, Australia. Josh Spasaro/The Epoch Times
Residents Don’t Feel Safe: Federal Candidate
The federal Liberal candidate for Goldstein, Tim Wilson, who previously held the seat until it was won by “teal” MP Zoe Daniel, was also at the rally.
“People are waking up in the middle of the night and hearing the rustle around their own home while they thought their kids were sleeping safely, and then they go and reach for their cricket bat to protect themselves,” he told The Epoch Times.
Former Liberal backbencher Tim Wilson makes a statement in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia on Feb. 21, 2019. AAP Image/Lukas Coch)
“You go to the Christmas carols at Dendy Park and you find out afterwards that there was an incident where people were rocking up with machetes.
“When you’re walking down Church Street and you see people getting arrested because they’re carrying machetes, you just look and go ‘what on earth is going on?’
“It’s actually shocking and hard to comprehend for a lot of people because it’s such a change from what was peaceful, with nice suburbs and clean streets, and where people felt safe.”
Last month, hundreds of residents held a march through the main street of St. Kilda against crime.
Rally organizer Lauren Sherson said small business owners had been told by police to “learn martial arts” due to an apparent lack of crime-prevention resources.
“During COVID there were police stopping people on bicycles along the bay,” she previously told The Epoch Times.
“Police were walking down my street and everywhere, but 1740032312 they’re just not here. I think there’s one ‘divvy van’ for South Melbourne and one for St. Kilda.”
Premier’s Earlier Pledge
Premier Jacinta Allan had pledged to review the laws, saying they were “unacceptable” and did not keep Victorians safe.
“This is recognition that crime hurts working people and their families who have worked so hard for what they’ve got,” she said.
“It’s unacceptable to me that many Victorians, particularly women and children, aren’t feeling as safe as they should be.
“It’s clear to me that we need to look at what more needs to be done.”
People walk along the seaside, inner-city suburb of St. Kilda in Melbourne, Australia on Oct. 2, 2021. Daniel Pockett/Getty Images
Newbury Disputes Claim of More Police
In May 2022, mother of four and wife of former AFL athlete Chris Judd, Bec Judd, publicly criticized the former Andrews government on Instagram for not doing enough to combat rapes and home invasions in the Bayside.
Premier Andrews at the time he was “not interested in having an argument with Ms. Judd.”
“I’m also obliged to point out though, I think there are more than 70 additional police in the Bayside area, and the most recent crime statistics released by an independent agency would not support those sweeping assessments about patterns of crime,” the former premier said.
Newbury said this was the opposite of the feedback he had received from residents in Brighton.
“ Victoria Police has confirmed that the youth crime crisis started in Victoria in Bayside,” he said.
Newbury said youth crime was the most urgent discussion point with local residents.
“You can talk to anybody in any street, and they’ll know someone who’s been attacked, home invaded, had their cars stolen,” he said.
“It is just out of control because the laws are not strong enough, and because the bail system is an open-door system. It’s just a revolving door.”
