🟠 News Club - Victoria's crime reality check

What might seem like an obvious observation to locals, Victoria’s crime wave is now making national headlines after 2 innocent kids died in what police say is youth gang-related violence. AFL legend Mick Malthouse also fought off intruders last week - and these are incidents from just the last few days...

Victoria’s crime reality check

Last week at a media lunch in Melbourne, I sat next to a local and asked whether the reports about crime escalating in the city reflect his reality. His answer - his apartment had been broken into twice in the past 2 weeks. 

We had that conversation on the same day that AFL legend Mick Malthouse gave his terrifying account of confronting 3 people who broke into his East Melbourne apartment.  

You probably know that I’m Sydney-based. If you’re in Melbourne or Victoria and thinking ‘derr, this has been a thing for ages’, I am aware… But it’s the intensity of accounts in the last month or so that has caught my distant eye - particularly what corporate leaders had to say in their August profit announcements about conditions in that state. 

So let’s go through some Club Picks for you to get a sense of what’s happening with crime in Victoria.

1. While academic Dr Samara McPhedran argues Australia is becoming less violent overall, others point out that crime in Victoria is at its highest level in almost a decade. If you’re into graphs, these from the Guardian tell the story.

2. The Age's recent investigation (paywall) into Melbourne's youth gangs reveals how the current crime wave has evolved. These aren't traditional criminal enterprises - they're social media-driven crews that film attacks, keep online scoreboards, and treat machetes (marketed as "zombie killers") like status symbols. The gamification aspect through platforms makes this different from past crime waves.

3. I mentioned that corporate leaders have had a bit to say about this and last month, Wesfarmers boss Rob Scott shared with investors (paywall) what he called "quite a sad statistic" - sales of home security products at Bunnings in Victoria are through the roof... Victorians are buying cameras, locks and security systems at unprecedented rates. 

4. So what’s the government doing about it? The Allan Government is stumping up $727 million for prisons as remand numbers surge 22% for adults and 71% for young people following the introduction of tough bail laws in March. Critics argue this money - enough to build 1,400 community housing properties - is being spent "at the wrong end of the system" and won't prevent crime.

I decided to write this newsletter on this topic mid-last week. But it feels very relevant after 2 boys were killed on Saturday night - Victorian Police say they were not gang members but their deaths were the result of a suspected youth gang attack that was “targeted” and “connected”. 

“At a time when many are celebrating family on Father’s Day, these lives have been tragically cut short - a heartbreaking reminder of the pain that youth violence inflicts on us all,” said Paul Burke from the Les Twentyman Foundation. It is indeed.

Sweet dreams are made of this

Sleep is the best, right? If you’re tossing and turning over picking a new mattress, Sleep Republic is a top choice for comfort and support. Recommended by CHOICE and backed by the Australian Spinal Research Foundation, their award-winning 'mattress-in-a-box' is all about comfort. Experience the Sleep Republic difference with a 100-night trial, and get ready to dream.