James Merlino and the prime minister went rogue during a press conference that was supposed to promote a jobs plan

Malcolm Turnbull and acting Victorian premier gang up on each other over youth crime

It was always going to be risky.

Just hours before Malcolm Turnbull was due to catch a plane to Japan on Wednesday, the prime minister was in Geelong, Victoria, to announce a “memorandum of understanding” between the commonwealth and the Victorian Labor government, which would pave the way for a new “city deal” to boost employment in Geelong, Australia’s second-fastest growing city.

In the press conference, Turnbull stood next to the Victorian Labor MP James Merlino, the state’s acting premier.

The presser began well enough, as local dignitaries were thanked and platitudes expressed. But when a journalist asked the two men about “youth crime” in Victoria at the moment – a reference to the controversy surrounding so-called “gangs” of African youths in Melbourne – Merlino couldn’t help himself.

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He said the Australian Open tennis tournament was enjoying record crowds, with tens of thousands of Victorians and interstate visitors and international guests. He said those people were also enjoying Victoria’s parks and its cafes and restaurants.

“Some of the commentary about visiting restaurants, I think people see it for what it is,” he said, referring to comments from the home affairs minister, Peter Dutton, two weeks ago. “But today is not the day to engage in political point-scoring.”

Then Turnbull couldn’t help himself. He joined Merlino in the rhetorical two-step, saying he agreed this was not the time to have a debate about law and order in Victoria, before making his own contribution to the debate about law and order in Victoria.

“James I’m sure agrees ... the first duty of every government is to keep its citizens safe,” Turnbull said. “Public safety is the key and if there is real concern ... It is the government’s job to deal with those concerns and make sure the people feel safe when they walk down the street.”

Merlino said he agreed with Turnbull on that point, and didn’t want the press conference to become awkward. He cleared his throat before listing the Victorian Labor government’s achievements.

“Three thousand additional police. Significant strengthening of sentencing. Strengthening of our bail system. We have the strictest parole regime in the country.”

Turnbull then turned up the tension.

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“James, I don’t want to have an argument with you but let’s just be very factual if I may,” he said. “In terms of the issues with gang violence in Victoria, they have caused a great deal of concern in the state.

“The response to that has to be very much a community policing response from the Victorian police, for which the state government is responsible. I think James understands that the responsibility for keeping Victorians safe on the street is the Victorian government’s. I understand there is a political debate in Victoria.

“[The Victorian opposition leader] Matt Guy has reforms that he wants to advance. That will be fought out in the state election.”

Merlino then went rogue.



“Let’s also get some facts on the table,” he said. “We’ve had the biggest decrease in the crime rate in Victoria in the last decade, so we are seeing results on the ground.

“Malcolm, in terms of what you can do to assist, well there’s firearms legislation in the Victorian parliament. Your counterpart, you mentioned Matthew Guy. Matthew Guy and the Liberal party are stalling that legislation and seeking to water it down.

“The assistant commissioner of Victoria police has described that firearms legislation as a game-changer, in terms of dealing with organised crime.

“So the best thing you can do, Malcolm, for Victoria, is get on the phone, talk to the mobster’s mate Matthew Guy and get the Liberal party to support our legislation.”

That prompted Turnbull, who is taller than Merlino, to put his arm over Merlino’s shoulder in an attempt to shut him up.

“I understand why you’ve had to say that ... We’ll raise the tone of it. Let me talk about my trip to Japan.”