Octogenarian Victorians ousted from NSW Libs, but not before trying to block appointment of a woman
Federal Liberal Leader Sussan Ley and her NSW counterpart Mark Speakman have secured a major win in determining who will run the beleaguered state party, appointing a new committee headed by former premier Nick Greiner and ending the term of two octogenarian men from Victoria.
Ley and Speakman's plan for the NSW Liberals was endorsed at a federal executive meeting 20 votes to one on Tuesday, a decision which will see the division remain in administration until March but with committee members handpicked by the two leaders.
Ley chose former state MP Peta Seaton as her representative on the committee while Speakman nominated barrister and leading moderate Liberal Jane Buncle as his.
The party's vice president, Berenice Walker, Peter O'Hanlon and James Owen will be on the committee, as well as Mark Baillie, who will serve as treasurer.
Greiner and Seaton, who was the third member of the original intervention committee which included former Victorian treasurer Alan Stockdale and ex-Victorian senator Richard Alston, conducted the review of the party's 2023 state election loss.
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The continuation of Stockdale and Alston on a committee running the NSW division was seen as untenable because both men were Victorian. Stockdale sealed the pair's fate when he made ill-thought-out comments to a meeting of the NSW Liberal Women's Council, in which he joked that women were now 'sufficiently assertive' that reverse quotas for men could be needed.
Several Liberal sources with knowledge of Tuesday's meeting said Stockdale argued that Walker, who is president of the women's council, should not be on the new committee. At the same time, some Right-wing members were pushing for former prime minister Tony Abbott to be on the committee, but that was overwhelmingly opposed.
The women's council was vocal in its criticism of the administration of the party under Stockdale and Alston, passing a motion of its executive on May 25 expressing 'our firm and formal opposition to any extension of the federal intervention'.
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Sky News AU
an hour ago
- Sky News AU
Embattled NSW Liberal committee undergoes major shake-up, as moderates reassert dominance whilst fending off unexpected bid from Tony Abbott
The beleaguered NSW Liberal state committee has been purged, with ex-Victorian Senator Richard Alston and former Victorian treasurer Alan Stockdale dumped as administrators of the branch after a string controversies and gaffes. The federal executive met on Tuesday afternoon and voted 20 votes to one on the new leadership panel proposed by federal Liberal leader Sussan Ley and her NSW counterpart Mark Speakman. The meeting concluded that the bruised division would remain in administration until next March with former NSW Premier Nick Greiner installed as the independent chair to oversee the seven-person state executive committee for the next nine months. Ms Ley selected former state MP Peta Seaton as her delegate on the committee, while Mr Speakman appointed barrister and outspoken moderate Jane Buncle. It is also understood that multiple members of the NSW right faction lobbied for former Prime Minister Tony Abbott to be appointed to the committee, however the move was resoundingly voted down by the executive. The meeting's rejection of Abbott's bid resulted in a tense factional dispute between moderates and the right. Numerous Liberal right figures labelled the new group the "committee of management" and attacked party bosses for establishing an executive stacked with staunch social moderates and soft-right forces led by factional leader federal MP Alex Hawke. One anonymous conservative Liberal described the outcome as a "Hawke/Moderate intervention' and told The Daily Telegraph, 'their mission will be to prevent reform from happening.' 'If the rules of the party mean that Hawke and the Moderates are always in charge, what incentive do they have to change the rules?' The new committee will include Mark Baillie who will serve as treasurer, James Owen, Peter O'Hanlon and Berenice Walker who is also the President of the NSW Women's Council. The result means that Victorian Liberal elders Alan Stockdale and Richard Alston will be axed as interim administrators, after former federal Liberal leader Peter Dutton announced a 10-month takeover of the NSW branch and installed a three-person oversight panel due to the 2024 council nomination blunder. Mr Stockdale's tenure was viewed as unsustainable by a myriad of NSW Liberal figures after the veteran politician stated at a gathering of the NSW Liberal Women's Council that women had become 'sufficiently assertive' and that reverse quotas for men were needed. Multiple Liberal insiders told the Sydney Morning Herald Mr Stockdale was vocal in his opposition of Ms Walker being appointed to the committee. Ms Walker had previously railed against the party's direction under Mr Stockdale's leadership, with the women's council passing a motion on May 25 conveying their 'firm and formal opposition to any extension of the federal intervention'. Ms Seaton was the only member of the interim panel who survived the restructure. The singular vote against Ley and Speakman's committee was Charlie Taylor, the brother of shadow defence minister Angus Taylor who recently lost the Liberal leadership ballot, Liberal sources told the Sydney Morning Herald. A Liberal source told the Daily Telegraph that NSW members had 'reclaimed the party back from Victoria'. 'The Victorian division is sinking fast and we want nothing to do with that Titanic,' the unnamed source added. The meeting also appointed former NSW state minister Pru Goward and former federal minister and factional powerbroker Nick Minchin to lead a review into the Liberal's thumping 2025 federal election defeat. Ms Goward and Mr Minchin are set to investigate the Coalition's tumultuous election campaign and the last term of parliament under former opposition leader Peter Dutton and provide recommendations about how the party can best reclaim the litany of seats lost to both the Teals and the Labor Party. They are also expected to scrutinise the centralised nature of Liberal campaign HQ in the lead-up to the election, of which numerous Coalition figures have spoken out against since the overwhelming defeat.
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
After-hours GPs, tax relief pitch in budget reply
Grants of $150,000 for GP clinics to offer after-hours services, stamp duty relief for first homebuyers and support for drought-stricken farmers are central to a Liberal opposition's pitch for government. In the South Australian parliament on Tuesday, Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia responded to the Malinauskas government's June 5 budget, in a speech that was also a pitch to voters before the state election in March. The budget was "arrogant and visionless" and was filled with "spin, debt, broken promises and bad priorities", he said. "The cost of living is crushing, home ownership is slipping out of reach, our health system is under incredible pressure, crime is spiralling and our regions are in drought, desperate for support," Mr Tarzia said. Meanwhile, "Party Pete" was "riding the wave of event after event, often on the taxpayer dime", he said in reference to Premier Peter Malinauskas. "The likes of Sam Smith, Greg Norman, Katy Perry … that's where he's most comfortable," he said. Mr Tarzia announced a two-year trial to offer $150,000 grants to GP clinics to help cover the cost of opening until 8pm on weekdays and on Sundays. "We will abolish Labor's water bill price hike, we'll scrap Labor's GP payroll tax grab and we'll slash stamp duty for first homebuyers, including on existing homes," he said. First homebuyers purchasing an existing home of up to $1 million would not pay stamp duty, saving up to $48,000 in upfront costs, and the Liberals would also waive the $192 mortgage registration fee. Treasurer Stephen Mullighan's budget was headlined by a $395 million "law and order" package to fund hundreds of extra police officers, but existing commitments to big-ticket road and hospital projects and net debt of $35.5 billion, left it little room to move on big new investments. Mr Tarzia said the government's $73 million drought package provided "little relief" to farmers and regional communities doing it tough. "So far, their response has been nothing but disgraceful," he said. The government needed to create a drought hardship registry, fast-track relief with targeted rebates, subsidise water carting and deliver low or no interest loans for fodder and fertiliser, he said. Mr Tarzia criticised the government on hospital ramping, which was "worse than ever" and broken promises on a $600 million hydrogen plant was shelved to help fund the Whyalla steelworks package. Grants of $150,000 for GP clinics to offer after-hours services, stamp duty relief for first homebuyers and support for drought-stricken farmers are central to a Liberal opposition's pitch for government. In the South Australian parliament on Tuesday, Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia responded to the Malinauskas government's June 5 budget, in a speech that was also a pitch to voters before the state election in March. The budget was "arrogant and visionless" and was filled with "spin, debt, broken promises and bad priorities", he said. "The cost of living is crushing, home ownership is slipping out of reach, our health system is under incredible pressure, crime is spiralling and our regions are in drought, desperate for support," Mr Tarzia said. Meanwhile, "Party Pete" was "riding the wave of event after event, often on the taxpayer dime", he said in reference to Premier Peter Malinauskas. "The likes of Sam Smith, Greg Norman, Katy Perry … that's where he's most comfortable," he said. Mr Tarzia announced a two-year trial to offer $150,000 grants to GP clinics to help cover the cost of opening until 8pm on weekdays and on Sundays. "We will abolish Labor's water bill price hike, we'll scrap Labor's GP payroll tax grab and we'll slash stamp duty for first homebuyers, including on existing homes," he said. First homebuyers purchasing an existing home of up to $1 million would not pay stamp duty, saving up to $48,000 in upfront costs, and the Liberals would also waive the $192 mortgage registration fee. Treasurer Stephen Mullighan's budget was headlined by a $395 million "law and order" package to fund hundreds of extra police officers, but existing commitments to big-ticket road and hospital projects and net debt of $35.5 billion, left it little room to move on big new investments. Mr Tarzia said the government's $73 million drought package provided "little relief" to farmers and regional communities doing it tough. "So far, their response has been nothing but disgraceful," he said. The government needed to create a drought hardship registry, fast-track relief with targeted rebates, subsidise water carting and deliver low or no interest loans for fodder and fertiliser, he said. Mr Tarzia criticised the government on hospital ramping, which was "worse than ever" and broken promises on a $600 million hydrogen plant was shelved to help fund the Whyalla steelworks package. Grants of $150,000 for GP clinics to offer after-hours services, stamp duty relief for first homebuyers and support for drought-stricken farmers are central to a Liberal opposition's pitch for government. In the South Australian parliament on Tuesday, Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia responded to the Malinauskas government's June 5 budget, in a speech that was also a pitch to voters before the state election in March. The budget was "arrogant and visionless" and was filled with "spin, debt, broken promises and bad priorities", he said. "The cost of living is crushing, home ownership is slipping out of reach, our health system is under incredible pressure, crime is spiralling and our regions are in drought, desperate for support," Mr Tarzia said. Meanwhile, "Party Pete" was "riding the wave of event after event, often on the taxpayer dime", he said in reference to Premier Peter Malinauskas. "The likes of Sam Smith, Greg Norman, Katy Perry … that's where he's most comfortable," he said. Mr Tarzia announced a two-year trial to offer $150,000 grants to GP clinics to help cover the cost of opening until 8pm on weekdays and on Sundays. "We will abolish Labor's water bill price hike, we'll scrap Labor's GP payroll tax grab and we'll slash stamp duty for first homebuyers, including on existing homes," he said. First homebuyers purchasing an existing home of up to $1 million would not pay stamp duty, saving up to $48,000 in upfront costs, and the Liberals would also waive the $192 mortgage registration fee. Treasurer Stephen Mullighan's budget was headlined by a $395 million "law and order" package to fund hundreds of extra police officers, but existing commitments to big-ticket road and hospital projects and net debt of $35.5 billion, left it little room to move on big new investments. Mr Tarzia said the government's $73 million drought package provided "little relief" to farmers and regional communities doing it tough. "So far, their response has been nothing but disgraceful," he said. The government needed to create a drought hardship registry, fast-track relief with targeted rebates, subsidise water carting and deliver low or no interest loans for fodder and fertiliser, he said. Mr Tarzia criticised the government on hospital ramping, which was "worse than ever" and broken promises on a $600 million hydrogen plant was shelved to help fund the Whyalla steelworks package. Grants of $150,000 for GP clinics to offer after-hours services, stamp duty relief for first homebuyers and support for drought-stricken farmers are central to a Liberal opposition's pitch for government. In the South Australian parliament on Tuesday, Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia responded to the Malinauskas government's June 5 budget, in a speech that was also a pitch to voters before the state election in March. The budget was "arrogant and visionless" and was filled with "spin, debt, broken promises and bad priorities", he said. "The cost of living is crushing, home ownership is slipping out of reach, our health system is under incredible pressure, crime is spiralling and our regions are in drought, desperate for support," Mr Tarzia said. Meanwhile, "Party Pete" was "riding the wave of event after event, often on the taxpayer dime", he said in reference to Premier Peter Malinauskas. "The likes of Sam Smith, Greg Norman, Katy Perry … that's where he's most comfortable," he said. Mr Tarzia announced a two-year trial to offer $150,000 grants to GP clinics to help cover the cost of opening until 8pm on weekdays and on Sundays. "We will abolish Labor's water bill price hike, we'll scrap Labor's GP payroll tax grab and we'll slash stamp duty for first homebuyers, including on existing homes," he said. First homebuyers purchasing an existing home of up to $1 million would not pay stamp duty, saving up to $48,000 in upfront costs, and the Liberals would also waive the $192 mortgage registration fee. Treasurer Stephen Mullighan's budget was headlined by a $395 million "law and order" package to fund hundreds of extra police officers, but existing commitments to big-ticket road and hospital projects and net debt of $35.5 billion, left it little room to move on big new investments. Mr Tarzia said the government's $73 million drought package provided "little relief" to farmers and regional communities doing it tough. "So far, their response has been nothing but disgraceful," he said. The government needed to create a drought hardship registry, fast-track relief with targeted rebates, subsidise water carting and deliver low or no interest loans for fodder and fertiliser, he said. Mr Tarzia criticised the government on hospital ramping, which was "worse than ever" and broken promises on a $600 million hydrogen plant was shelved to help fund the Whyalla steelworks package.
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Backflip on post and boast laws after 'disturbing' rise
A state has sensationally backflipped on its opposition to laws that crack down on crooks posting and boasting about their crimes. Victoria has become the last Australian state or territory to move on "post and boast" laws, making it a specific offence to brag about crimes on social media and messaging apps. Under legislation introduced to parliament on Tuesday, criminals who publish footage of their involvement in affrays, car thefts, home invasions, robberies or carjackings will face an extra two years in jail. The proposed offence will cover anyone who encourages or facilitates such crimes. Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny said the Victorian government was responding to a "disturbing" rise in post-and-boast behaviour, particularly among young people chasing clout on social media platforms like TikTok and Snapchat. "We are criminalising when offenders turn crime into content," she told reporters. Ms Kilkenny said the legislation, which was expected to pass parliament and take effect later in 2025, would grant police powers to search property and devices connected to the alleged offence. Third parties, such as witnesses, bystanders and journalists, won't be captured by the laws. It will bring Victoria in line with penalties in NSW, Queensland and the Northern Territory. Tasmania, Western Australia and South Australia have also committed to rolling out similar measures. Ms Kilkenny said Victoria's laws would be similar to those in NSW but cover a wider array of serious offences. University of Queensland associate professor Renee Zahnow said there was no empirical evidence the laws stopped the conduct. Their biggest limitation, the criminologist said, was they did not stop footage of a crime being posted by other community members. "So if the aim is to address infamy and copycats then it will not necessarily have any impact," Assoc Prof Zahnow told AAP. "Because most of the CCTV and video footage posted online and then shared and replayed continuously by media outlets does not originate from perpetrators but instead from members of the public." The Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service said the state government appeared to be copying other state and territories' "regressive approaches" to youth offending. "They are no 'tougher' than other states, but are equally misguided," its chief executive Nerita Waight said. In 2024, then-federal opposition leader Peter Dutton pushed to make it a Commonwealth offence to post material depicting violence, drug or property offences to bolster notoriety. The Victorian government at the time ruled out a specific offence to target the problem, suggesting it was covered by a charge created after the 2020 Eastern Freeway crash that left four police officers dead. But Premier Jacinta Allan signalled a potential change of stance in March after footage was uploaded online of a security guard being attacked by a gang of youths at a Bendigo shopping centre. Shadow attorney-general Michael O'Brien said Labor had been dragged "kicking and screaming" to the reforms. "We are the last state in the country to move on this issue," he said. Opposition Leader Brad Battin argued the government was introducing the legislation to appear tough on crime ahead of fresh crime statistics being released on Thursday. Police Minister Anthony Carbines denied the move was motivated by politics and rejected suggestions Victoria could have acted sooner. "We don't make any apologies for taking our time to get that right," he said. Victoria's post-and-boast crackdown comes alongside tougher bail laws and machete bans following surging rates of youth crime, aggravated burglaries and car thefts. Police union boss Wayne Gatt said the laws were unlikely to be a silver bullet to the crime crisis, with the solution lying in effective bail reforms that put offenders behind bars. "Once they are there, we're happy for them to boast as much as they like," he said. Another round of bail law reforms is expected to be introduced to Victorian parliament as early as July. A state has sensationally backflipped on its opposition to laws that crack down on crooks posting and boasting about their crimes. Victoria has become the last Australian state or territory to move on "post and boast" laws, making it a specific offence to brag about crimes on social media and messaging apps. Under legislation introduced to parliament on Tuesday, criminals who publish footage of their involvement in affrays, car thefts, home invasions, robberies or carjackings will face an extra two years in jail. The proposed offence will cover anyone who encourages or facilitates such crimes. Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny said the Victorian government was responding to a "disturbing" rise in post-and-boast behaviour, particularly among young people chasing clout on social media platforms like TikTok and Snapchat. "We are criminalising when offenders turn crime into content," she told reporters. Ms Kilkenny said the legislation, which was expected to pass parliament and take effect later in 2025, would grant police powers to search property and devices connected to the alleged offence. Third parties, such as witnesses, bystanders and journalists, won't be captured by the laws. It will bring Victoria in line with penalties in NSW, Queensland and the Northern Territory. Tasmania, Western Australia and South Australia have also committed to rolling out similar measures. Ms Kilkenny said Victoria's laws would be similar to those in NSW but cover a wider array of serious offences. University of Queensland associate professor Renee Zahnow said there was no empirical evidence the laws stopped the conduct. Their biggest limitation, the criminologist said, was they did not stop footage of a crime being posted by other community members. "So if the aim is to address infamy and copycats then it will not necessarily have any impact," Assoc Prof Zahnow told AAP. "Because most of the CCTV and video footage posted online and then shared and replayed continuously by media outlets does not originate from perpetrators but instead from members of the public." The Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service said the state government appeared to be copying other state and territories' "regressive approaches" to youth offending. "They are no 'tougher' than other states, but are equally misguided," its chief executive Nerita Waight said. In 2024, then-federal opposition leader Peter Dutton pushed to make it a Commonwealth offence to post material depicting violence, drug or property offences to bolster notoriety. The Victorian government at the time ruled out a specific offence to target the problem, suggesting it was covered by a charge created after the 2020 Eastern Freeway crash that left four police officers dead. But Premier Jacinta Allan signalled a potential change of stance in March after footage was uploaded online of a security guard being attacked by a gang of youths at a Bendigo shopping centre. Shadow attorney-general Michael O'Brien said Labor had been dragged "kicking and screaming" to the reforms. "We are the last state in the country to move on this issue," he said. Opposition Leader Brad Battin argued the government was introducing the legislation to appear tough on crime ahead of fresh crime statistics being released on Thursday. Police Minister Anthony Carbines denied the move was motivated by politics and rejected suggestions Victoria could have acted sooner. "We don't make any apologies for taking our time to get that right," he said. Victoria's post-and-boast crackdown comes alongside tougher bail laws and machete bans following surging rates of youth crime, aggravated burglaries and car thefts. Police union boss Wayne Gatt said the laws were unlikely to be a silver bullet to the crime crisis, with the solution lying in effective bail reforms that put offenders behind bars. "Once they are there, we're happy for them to boast as much as they like," he said. Another round of bail law reforms is expected to be introduced to Victorian parliament as early as July. A state has sensationally backflipped on its opposition to laws that crack down on crooks posting and boasting about their crimes. Victoria has become the last Australian state or territory to move on "post and boast" laws, making it a specific offence to brag about crimes on social media and messaging apps. Under legislation introduced to parliament on Tuesday, criminals who publish footage of their involvement in affrays, car thefts, home invasions, robberies or carjackings will face an extra two years in jail. The proposed offence will cover anyone who encourages or facilitates such crimes. Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny said the Victorian government was responding to a "disturbing" rise in post-and-boast behaviour, particularly among young people chasing clout on social media platforms like TikTok and Snapchat. "We are criminalising when offenders turn crime into content," she told reporters. Ms Kilkenny said the legislation, which was expected to pass parliament and take effect later in 2025, would grant police powers to search property and devices connected to the alleged offence. Third parties, such as witnesses, bystanders and journalists, won't be captured by the laws. It will bring Victoria in line with penalties in NSW, Queensland and the Northern Territory. Tasmania, Western Australia and South Australia have also committed to rolling out similar measures. Ms Kilkenny said Victoria's laws would be similar to those in NSW but cover a wider array of serious offences. University of Queensland associate professor Renee Zahnow said there was no empirical evidence the laws stopped the conduct. Their biggest limitation, the criminologist said, was they did not stop footage of a crime being posted by other community members. "So if the aim is to address infamy and copycats then it will not necessarily have any impact," Assoc Prof Zahnow told AAP. "Because most of the CCTV and video footage posted online and then shared and replayed continuously by media outlets does not originate from perpetrators but instead from members of the public." The Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service said the state government appeared to be copying other state and territories' "regressive approaches" to youth offending. "They are no 'tougher' than other states, but are equally misguided," its chief executive Nerita Waight said. In 2024, then-federal opposition leader Peter Dutton pushed to make it a Commonwealth offence to post material depicting violence, drug or property offences to bolster notoriety. The Victorian government at the time ruled out a specific offence to target the problem, suggesting it was covered by a charge created after the 2020 Eastern Freeway crash that left four police officers dead. But Premier Jacinta Allan signalled a potential change of stance in March after footage was uploaded online of a security guard being attacked by a gang of youths at a Bendigo shopping centre. Shadow attorney-general Michael O'Brien said Labor had been dragged "kicking and screaming" to the reforms. "We are the last state in the country to move on this issue," he said. Opposition Leader Brad Battin argued the government was introducing the legislation to appear tough on crime ahead of fresh crime statistics being released on Thursday. Police Minister Anthony Carbines denied the move was motivated by politics and rejected suggestions Victoria could have acted sooner. "We don't make any apologies for taking our time to get that right," he said. Victoria's post-and-boast crackdown comes alongside tougher bail laws and machete bans following surging rates of youth crime, aggravated burglaries and car thefts. Police union boss Wayne Gatt said the laws were unlikely to be a silver bullet to the crime crisis, with the solution lying in effective bail reforms that put offenders behind bars. "Once they are there, we're happy for them to boast as much as they like," he said. Another round of bail law reforms is expected to be introduced to Victorian parliament as early as July. A state has sensationally backflipped on its opposition to laws that crack down on crooks posting and boasting about their crimes. Victoria has become the last Australian state or territory to move on "post and boast" laws, making it a specific offence to brag about crimes on social media and messaging apps. Under legislation introduced to parliament on Tuesday, criminals who publish footage of their involvement in affrays, car thefts, home invasions, robberies or carjackings will face an extra two years in jail. The proposed offence will cover anyone who encourages or facilitates such crimes. Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny said the Victorian government was responding to a "disturbing" rise in post-and-boast behaviour, particularly among young people chasing clout on social media platforms like TikTok and Snapchat. "We are criminalising when offenders turn crime into content," she told reporters. Ms Kilkenny said the legislation, which was expected to pass parliament and take effect later in 2025, would grant police powers to search property and devices connected to the alleged offence. Third parties, such as witnesses, bystanders and journalists, won't be captured by the laws. It will bring Victoria in line with penalties in NSW, Queensland and the Northern Territory. Tasmania, Western Australia and South Australia have also committed to rolling out similar measures. Ms Kilkenny said Victoria's laws would be similar to those in NSW but cover a wider array of serious offences. University of Queensland associate professor Renee Zahnow said there was no empirical evidence the laws stopped the conduct. Their biggest limitation, the criminologist said, was they did not stop footage of a crime being posted by other community members. "So if the aim is to address infamy and copycats then it will not necessarily have any impact," Assoc Prof Zahnow told AAP. "Because most of the CCTV and video footage posted online and then shared and replayed continuously by media outlets does not originate from perpetrators but instead from members of the public." The Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service said the state government appeared to be copying other state and territories' "regressive approaches" to youth offending. "They are no 'tougher' than other states, but are equally misguided," its chief executive Nerita Waight said. In 2024, then-federal opposition leader Peter Dutton pushed to make it a Commonwealth offence to post material depicting violence, drug or property offences to bolster notoriety. The Victorian government at the time ruled out a specific offence to target the problem, suggesting it was covered by a charge created after the 2020 Eastern Freeway crash that left four police officers dead. But Premier Jacinta Allan signalled a potential change of stance in March after footage was uploaded online of a security guard being attacked by a gang of youths at a Bendigo shopping centre. Shadow attorney-general Michael O'Brien said Labor had been dragged "kicking and screaming" to the reforms. "We are the last state in the country to move on this issue," he said. Opposition Leader Brad Battin argued the government was introducing the legislation to appear tough on crime ahead of fresh crime statistics being released on Thursday. Police Minister Anthony Carbines denied the move was motivated by politics and rejected suggestions Victoria could have acted sooner. "We don't make any apologies for taking our time to get that right," he said. Victoria's post-and-boast crackdown comes alongside tougher bail laws and machete bans following surging rates of youth crime, aggravated burglaries and car thefts. Police union boss Wayne Gatt said the laws were unlikely to be a silver bullet to the crime crisis, with the solution lying in effective bail reforms that put offenders behind bars. "Once they are there, we're happy for them to boast as much as they like," he said. Another round of bail law reforms is expected to be introduced to Victorian parliament as early as July.
