How One Nation Plans to Make Victoria ‘The Toughest State on Crime’

One Nation has pledged to make Victoria the “toughest state on crime in Australia” with a raft of new election policies.

The conservative-leaning party said it would lower the age of criminal responsibility to 10, introduce mandatory minimum sentences for people who assault emergency workers, and establish a 24/7 bail court if elected at Victoria’s November state election.

One Nation also believes that police, courts and prisons must all be strengthened together, while promising greater support for officers and frontline workers.

“If you work hard and play by the rules, that should count for something. If you want to do the wrong thing, you will be met with the toughest laws in the country,” One Nation’s policy document stated.

Strengthening the Police Force

One Nation noted that Victoria Police has 1,500 vacant positions and that its workforce is “becoming catastrophically thin.”

To address the issue, the party would offer sign-on bonuses to experienced officers and allow leading senior constables and sergeants to take on higher ranks and pay while remaining on the beat.

It also proposed using “carefully governed AI” to help draft routine paperwork, with an officer authorising every document. This would free up more police to patrol the streets.

In addition, One Nation said it would introduce mandatory prison sentences for anyone who assaults a police officer, paramedic, nurse or firefighter.

Police would also be granted broader field powers, including stronger legal protections to intercept and apprehend fleeing vehicles by adopting Western Australian-style pursuit frameworks.

Officers would be allowed to commence proceedings at the scene of a crime rather than only at a police station.

Regarding the justice system, three new Magistrates’ Courts would open in Melton, Epping and Pakenham, while a 24/7 Bail Court would operate outside ordinary hours to handle bail applications.

One Nation would strengthen bail laws to make it more difficult for repeat offenders, or anyone who commits an indictable offence while already on bail, to obtain bail.

People granted bail for listed serious offences would be electronically monitored and subject to curfews, while courts would have 90 days to resolve serious violent charges.

Tougher Penalties for Child Offenders

Under One Nation’s proposed changes, children charged with serious violent offences would be sentenced under the Sentencing Act 1991 instead of the Youth Justice Act 2024, which focuses on rehabilitation.

The age of criminal responsibility would also be lowered from the current 12 to 10.

“Every parent in the state knows that a 10-year-old knows the difference between right and wrong,” One Nation said.

“We will return the age of criminal responsibility to 10 years old to ensure that corrective action is taken to prevent them ending up in a life of crime.”

How Coalition and Labor Plan to Tackle Crime

State Opposition Leader Jess Wilson has promised to recruit thousands of new police officers and reopen 40 police stations that Labor closed.

In addition, the Coalition would introduce “Adult Crime, Adult Time” laws if elected in November, including for offences such as arson and motor vehicle theft.

“Only my Liberals and Nationals team will recruit 3,000 more police, fix our broken justice system and ensure the law is on the side of victims, not offenders,” Wilson said on Sep. 23.

Meanwhile, Victorian Labor has promised to introduce Jack’s Law, giving police stop-and-search powers to tackle knife crime if re-elected.

“The new law will make every public place a designated area—always, every day, every hour,” Victorian Premier Ben Carroll told the Police Association of Victoria on Sep. 17.

Carroll also announced plans to recruit 1,500 additional police officers and establish the state’s second permanent police academy in Melbourne’s western suburbs.