The acting Victorian premier, James Merlino, during a press conference with the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, alludes to Peter Dutton's claim that Victorians are 'scared to go out to restaurants' because of 'African gang violence', saying 'people see it for what it is'. Merlino, referring to the lobster with alleged mobster scandal, says: 'There's firearms legislation in the Victorian parliament, 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 that legislation'. Putting his arm on Merlino, Turnbull says: 'I understand why you've had to say that ... We'll raise the tone of it. Let me talk about my trip to Japan.'