Victorian Police Minister Lisa Neville slams Tony Abbott’s ‘kid-glove policing’ comments

The Victorian Police Minister has defended the force after Tony Abbott hit out at the state’s “kid-glove policing” approach.

Victorian Police Minister Lisa Neville says Tony Abbott should “stick to causing chaos and dysfunction” as she defends the force against the former PM.

Mr Abbott criticised police this morning on 2GB over their “kid-glove policing” approach to youth crime in Victoria, suggesting it drove people to attend the a neo-Nazi rally in Melbourne’s St Kilda on Saturday.

“We’re all against soft-touch policing, we’re all against kid-glove policing, but that doesn’t mean that we should be supporting extremists, of the left or the right,” Mr Abbott said.

Victoria Police has been criticised for more than a year over its handling of youth crime in Melbourne.

Ms Neville said the former PM should be focusing on wreaking havoc in the nation’s capital. “Tony Abbott should stick to what he knows best, causing chaos and dysfunction in Canberra.” she said.

Ms Neville applauded the work of police.

“I want to thank Victoria Police for the great job they do, day in day out keeping Victorians safe.” she said.

“Police had a strong and visible presence on Saturday to keep the peace and they did a great job.”

Anning’s ‘pretty poor judgment’

Senator Fraser Anning has repeatedly said he attended the rally organised by convicted criminal and Nazi sympathiser Blair Cottrell because of concerns about crime committed by youths of Sudanese background in both Victoria and Queensland.

Mr Abbott said the Senator made “poor judgment” charging taxpayers nearly $3000 to attend the St Kilda beach rally.

Queensland Senator Fraser Anning. Picture: AAP

“Something like that should have no place in any decent and civilised society,” he told 2GB.

“I don’t know what the rules are here … certainly I think it was pretty poor judgment for the Senator to go to Victoria on the taxpayer for something like this.”

Scott Morrison blasted Senator Anning and labelled him a “repeat offender” when it comes to racism yesterday, but the government will continue to accept the Queensland independent’s vote in the senate.