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Youth crime policy rejig, UFC return among Victorian party pledges

Victorian Labor proposes youth detention plan; Liberals pledge UFC return to Melbourne

Updated 2 min read

Published by Agyata NewsroomEditorial policyCorrections

Key points

  • Victorian Labor plans a $204 million program to detain low-level youth offenders for up to 12 months.
  • Minister Paul Edbrooke identified the Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre as a key facility for the new rehabilitation policy.
  • Liberal leader Jess Wilson promised a $40 million fund to bring UFC events to Melbourne by next year.

Why it matters. These competing election pledges outline distinct strategies for addressing youth crime and boosting the local economy through major sporting events if their respective parties win the upcoming vote in Victoria.

Updated Sources: Abc, Wikipedia: Youth

Victorian Labor Minister Paul Edbrooke proposed a $204 million plan to detain low-level youth offenders in secure facilities for up to 12 months if re-elected this month. The initiative targets nearly 500 children over two years, utilizing the Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre as a primary location for rehabilitation rather than jail. Meanwhile, Liberal opposition leader Jess Wilson pledged a $40 million fund to host major events like the UFC in Melbourne starting next year.

Latest updates

Youth crime policy rejig, UFC return among Victorian party pledges

If the Victorian Labor party wins the upcoming election, it plans to implement a $204 million rehabilitation detention program for low and mid-level youth offenders. This initiative would remove young people from the community for periods of up to 12 months to reside in secure facilities like the Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre. Minister for Crime Prevention Paul Edbrooke highlighted this controversial site, which was reopened by the Allan government earlier this year, as a central component of the new policy. He explained that while serious crimes already warrant jail time, this measure offers a structured alternative to incarceration that encourages education and skill development. Corrections Minister Enver Erdogan previously noted in October 2025 that the reopening of Malmsbury followed a 46 per cent increase in remand rates after bail reforms in March. Under the initial reopening plan, 30 beds of the over 100-bed facility were activated at an operating cost exceeding $141 million over five years.

AbcWikipedia: Youth

Sources

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