Youth crime policy rejig, UFC return among Victorian party pledges

Low and mid-level youth offenders would be sentenced to age-targeted rehabilitation detention if Victoria's Labor government is re-elected later this month.

Labor's new policy would see young offenders removed from the community for up to 12 months and be held around-the-clock in a secure residential youth justice facility.

Minister for Crime Prevention Paul Edbrooke singled out Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre as a destination for offenders, a controversial facility re-opened by the Allan government earlier this year.

He said jail time in youth detention already existed for serious youth crime, but there was no strong option for lower-level offending.

"It provides that tougher new option that isn't jail but keeps them off the streets," Mr Edbrooke said.

"It puts structure in their lives; Going to school, getting a trade or a skill.

"It gives them a chance to turn their lives around and stop them going down the wrong path."

In October 2025, Corrections Minister Enver Erdogan said the decision to reopen Malmsbury came amid a 46 per cent rise in remand rates following bail reform in March.

Initially 30 beds of the more than 100-bed facility were made available under the re-opening plan at an operating cost of more than $141 million over five years.

Mr Edbrooke said rehabilitation shouldn't be a choice.

"We've had parents ask for this. They know that kids at risk of reoffending won't get better on the streets," he said.

"We're looking at the program being able to treat up to nearly 500 kids over two years with capacity to be scaled up over time."

UFC to return to Melbourne under Liberal government

Meanwhile the Victorian Opposition is today focusing on major events.

If elected later this month, it pledges to establish a $40 million Major Events Attraction Fund to bring big sporting and entertainment events to Melbourne.

Among those events is the UFC — the ultimate fighting championship.

The pledge includes working with global sporting powerhouse TKO which also manages the WWE and Zuffa Boxing.

Liberal leader Jess Wilson said hosting the events would help boost the economy by supporting small business and creating more jobs.

"This isn't just about putting on a great show," she said.

"It's about filling our hotels, packing our pubs, supporting small businesses and creating more jobs for Victorians.

"Melbourne is the sporting capital of the world, and under my government, we're going to make sure it stays that way."

Meanwhile, federal leader of One Nation, Pauline Hanson, hit the campaign trail in Swan Hill as part of the minor party's push to win the National Party-held seat Murray Plains.

The electorate and its predecessor constituency was held for more than two decades by former National Party state leader Peter Walsh, who is retiring at the state election.