From the desk of Roland Rocchiccioli

TO suggest the government’s new bail laws mark a sweeping reform is a preposterous misnomer. They are, for the greater part, a restoration to what they were before the illogical decision to implement changes was taken; and which did much to render law enforcement powerless, and served to embolden wilful offenders.

Until now, the government has done little to alleviate the law-and-order challenges creating community disquiet. Subsequently, the premier’s platitudinous mea maxima culpa: “we go it wrong”, should be accepted at face value — neither more, nor less. It is a stratagised reaction to a significant communal wicked problem; a devise to curry community favour; to be seen to be proactive. It could be posited the admission has little currency with voters. The much belated changes were implemented after months of belligerent posturing, and represents government response to surveying which revealed, explicitly, the voting public’s profound dissatisfaction; a lack of voter support, and a possible routing at the next state election.

The government’s proposal to lower the age of criminal accountability from 12 to 14 was risible and suffered deserved public opprobrium. It is incomprehensible that government, with unfettered access to the finest professional advice in every area of social and anthropological endeavour, was implacable in its determination to ignore the obvious signs; or to listen to the measured voice of a concerned public. Regrettably, the determination to stay-in-power is often detrimental to good governance. It is a political canker which contaminates both major parties.

The Police Association vote of no-confidence notwithstanding, the Allan-led government’s decision not to renew Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police Shane Patton’s contract has left a raft of nagging, unanswered questions. Axiomatically, it would not be a quantum, conspiratorial leap to suppose Mr. Patton was used as a scapegoat for government’s failure to satisfy public expectations. Certainly, the former Chief Commissioner’s recorded treatment indicates a disagreeable, opportunistic lack-of-regard for both him and the office he occupied.

The state government’s stubbornness across a range of major challenges affecting regional Victoria is most disquieting. Both Ballarat and Bendigo are beset by the challenges of youth criminal offending. While not pandemic in proportion the incidents are of grave concern and require assiduous attention. The government’s drastic erstwhile attenuation of bail laws served only to exacerbate the intricacies of a nuanced conundrum. The failure to heed seriously police concerns, outcomes, and proven data, has intensified the social malaise. Considering the depth of available evidence supporting VicPol’s lived experience, the government’s hesitancy and lack of meaningful support remains baffling.

Effective policing is contingent on unstinting government. The uniform marks our final line of defence. It stands between us and the potential disorder wrought by those intent on living their lives on the wrong side of the law — including emboldened youth offenders. The challenges are multifarious; the solutions, complex. A deplorable lack of parental efficacy, coupled with debilitating societal tribulations, has corroded social mores and created a pervading impotence. A misguided prevalence of spurious offender justification has distorted established values. Too often the legal system appears skewed in favour of the lawbreaker. Social and political prophylaxis runs rampant. Consequently, there is a whiff of communal despair; a perception that government intentionally ignores the voice of the constituents. The Werribee by-election was the harbinger of the growing-swell of voter discontent.

The premiere’s plaintive, “we got it wrong,” is lamentable!

Roland is heard with Brett Macdonald — radio 3BA Monday at 10.45 a.m. Contact: [email protected]