Opposition leader’s pointed message to Labor over state bail laws

Opposition leader Brad Battin is calling for urgent change to the state’s bail laws after alarming data on repeat youth offenders was released.

Figures obtained by the Herald Sun show 100 kids aged between 10 and 17 years were involved in at least 30 crimes last year.

Mr Battin told 3AW Breakfast the state government was sending the wrong message to young criminals.

Click PLAY to hear Brad Battin’s FULL interview on 3AW

“The Allan government has changed legislation around bail,” he told Mark Allen and Jimmy Bartel.

“We’ve seen kids with bail up to 50 times here in the state – the message (to kids) is that this is OK.”

Secretary of the Victorian Police Association Wayne Gatt then said it’s “terrifying” to hear of the new statistics.

“It’s not enough to sit back and watch statistics climb like this and soar out of control,” Gatt told Tony Jones on 3AW Mornings.

Press PLAY to hear his full reaction to the new statistics

“He appears to be more focused on crime and community safety at the present time,” he said about state opposition leader Brad Battin.

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