Mildura electorate
Jade BENHAM (Mildura) (14:39): (152) My constituency question is for the Minister for Youth Justice. My question is: will the minister visit Mildura and meet with Hands Up Mallee, Mallee District Aboriginal Services, Mildura City Heart and Victoria Police to discuss possible solutions, such as the establishment of a youth commissioner program, to break the cycle of youth crime in my electorate? Recent data shows that youth crime in Mildura has increased to the tune of 12 per cent, and it is being felt not only by retailers in the CBD, Mildura’s city heart, but retailers on a broader level, because we are quite spread out. But also my office has been contacted by community members who are really concerned about safety in their own homes. The government should be looking at a preventative and educational program or system that breaks the cycle before our youth commit the crime or become antisocial on the street. The work needs to be done collectively, because it is one of those things that not one agency looks after, and things are falling through the cracks.