Rita Panahi: Daniel Andrews’ clash with Bec Judd highlights his problem with women

A prominent local raising serious concerns about problems should be seen as community-minded, not a target for the Premier to victim-blame.

Dan Andrews’ problem with women reared its ugly head again when he was asked about model, mum and businesswoman Rebecca Judd’s statements about crime in bayside Melbourne.

The premier almost blurted out “that woman” when referring to Ms Judd before pretending he’d forgotten her name and having to be reminded.

It brought to mind the barely concealed contempt he displayed when referring to former Labor MP Kaushaliya Vaghela as “that person” before suggesting she is a fantasist, all because she had the temerity to complain about being bullied and mistreated.

Watch the footage of his response to Bec Judd and marvel at how dismissive, insensitive and frankly contradictory the premier is when asked about crime in bayside Melbourne and why so many in the bayside suburbs don’t feel safe in their own homes.

He simultaneously claimed Ms Judd was uninformed and the Bayside area doesn’t have a problem with violent offences but also said he’d committed significant additional police resources.

Daniel Andrews has been accused of “victim blaming” social media influencer Bec Judd, after she aired concerns the state government was ignoring safety fears in bayside suburbs.

“I’m not interested in having an argument with, umm, ahhh, ummm (is reminded of her name) Ms Judd,” Premier Andrews said.

“I’m also obliged to point out, though, I think there are more than 70 additional police in the Bayside area…she may have missed this.

“The most recent crime statistics released by an independent agency would not support those sweeping assessments about patterns of crime.

“I hope that knowing those things, perhaps learning those things, puts her mind at ease.”

Which is it, premier?

If crime is down then why are extra police resources needed?

It’s worth noting that the crime agency data that Mr Andrews refers to, which some Dan cult journalists slavishly reported, refers to criminal incidents from 2020 and 2021 when we were locked down for months at a time.

If there is no problem why do taxpayers need to contribute tens of millions more for an increase in police numbers particularly since Victoria has the highest debt of any state or territory?

The truth is Brighton, where Ms Judd lives, has seen a spate of home invasions, violent offences and property crime which, understandably, has alarmed the local community.

Bec Judd voiced that she is feeling “unsafe” following a spate of crime at the hands of gangs in and around Brighton. Picture: Toby Zerna

Gangs of violent thugs have terrorised a number of locals in their homes and there have been violent incidents where youngsters have been robbed and bashed.

A prominent local raising these incidents should be seen as community minded not an opportunity to victim blame.

Just because you are affluent doesn’t mean you are not entitled to feel safe in your own home.

But of course Ms Judd inspires enormous envy particularly among the Dan cult.

She is enormously successful, has a beautiful family and home and to top it off she is beautiful.

For some jealous Dan fans Judd’s fortunate life means she is not entitled to an opinion.

She should feel unsafe in silence and not dare complain.

Others who’ve allowed their jealousy to overwhelm their rationality complain that crime is worse elsewhere as if that is a comfort.

The furore started when Judd posted a message to her Instagram stories that she is sick of violent crime in her neighbourhood.

“So sick of the rapes, bashings and home invasions at the hands of the gangs in Bayside,” she wrote.

“The state government don’t seem to care. We feel unsafe.”

The post that sparked the backlash.

She also commented on a Seven News report: “I personally know two women who have experienced home invasions in Brighton in the last few weeks while they were at home.”

The premier’s response to Ms Judd’s concerns has been labelled ‘victim blaming’ by Brighton MP James Newbury.

“How dare Daniel Andrews attack a woman because she feels unsafe – what a creep,” he told The Herald Sun.

“There have been three home invasions in Brighton this week, a police shooting, and many more home invasions in local streets over recent months.

“It doesn’t matter who this woman is or what’s her postcode, when she raised the fact that she was scared because a home invasion occurred in her street, the Premier dismissed her and victim blamed her.

“It’s a deeply disturbing way for a Premier to respond to a woman’s concern about her safety.”

But this is a pattern of behaviour we’ve come to expect from premier Andrews.

When a strong woman challenges him, whether they be members of his own government like Vaghela, Jane Garrett or Jenny Mikakos, or women in the media like Sky News journalist Gabriella Power or commentator Peta Credlin, or a businesswoman like Judd he responds with a mixture of hostility, arrogance and utter disrespect.