Dan Andrews accused of "victim-blaming" in spat with Rebecca Judd
Victoria's premier Dan Andrews has been accused of "victim-blaming" by his political opponents, as he responded to an influencer's claim she feels "unsafe".
Social media influencer Rebecca Judd, who is married to AFL star Chris Judd, took to social media last week to say she felt "unsafe" due to a rise in crime in the Brighton area, where she lives in a $7.3 million mansion.
"So sick of the rapes, bashings and home invasions at the hands of gangs in Bayside," she wrote on Instagram last Thursday.
"The state government don't seem to care. We feel unsafe."
In response to her comments, Dan Andrews said that he was area of the rise in crime in the Melbourne suburb, with Victoria Police being utilised accordingly.
In a press conference on Sunday, he said, "I'm also obliged to point out, though. I think there are more than 70 additional police in the Bayside area."
"She might have missed this, others might have missed this, 502 additional sworn officers and 50 PSOs.
"Victoria Police being properly resourced."
Brighton MP James Newbury said the premier's comments were unacceptable, and said more should be done to curb the recent crimes.
"No woman should be dismissed or victim blamed because they're scared after a string of home invasions in their community," he said.
Andrews said the crime rate in the area did not reflect the influencer's concerns.
"I'm sorry she feels that way; the data will tell a different story," he said.
"But it is about personal feelings and your sense of safety, and I hope that knowing those things, or perhaps learning those things, puts her mind at ease."
Image credits: Getty Images