By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
PARENTS need to be the first port of call when it comes to preventing home-grown terror among Casey’s youth, according to State Opposition Leader Matthew Guy.
During a visit to the Star News Group offices on Thursday afternoon where he discussed a range of local and state-wide issues, Mr Guy was asked how extremism among children and young adults can be curbed.
Twelve months have passed since 18-year-old Numan Haider’s fateful attack on police in Endeavour Hills, and even less since Federal police executed raids throughout Casey in response to an alleged plot to target police at a local Anzac Day service.
Mr Guy said parents had the best opportunity to talk to their kids when they noticed behavioural change.
“I think the biggest issue with home-grown terror is parents,” he said.
“If you notice attitude changes in your kids … the government can’t notice those changes, the communities can’t notice those changes, churches, mosques or synagogues or temples can’t notice those changes.
“Parents are the first port of call to noticing behavioural changes amongst children, kids.”
The aspiring premier said there was only “so much” that governments could do to help children who had become disillusioned, and said it was unfair to also single out community groups such as the Islamic community.
“They do a lot, a lot, a lot more than people realise to help and assist to ensure their community is not unfairly branded or maligned and that anyone within in their community who removes themselves, that they try and come around, to try and help,” Mr Guy said.
“And so do a number of Christian communities, it’s not an issue that’s just relevant to Islamic communities.
“Some of the Christian communities have had similar problems.
“The first point of call is parents. If you notice your children lock themselves in their room, don’t want to contact any of their friends anymore, spend a lot of time on the computer … well you might want to have a conversation with the child as to whether they’re OK.”
Mr Guy also responded to Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius’s concerns – aired by Star News – about the harm caused by packaged liquor and its proliferation in disadvantaged areas of the south-east.
The Opposition leader said the best thing would be for south-east councils to ask the State Government for a moratorium on new liquor outlets in affected areas.
As a former Planning Minister, he had introduced such a moratorium in Chapel Street, Prahran.
Mr Guy said there was no better advice on community safety than that given by police.
However, he backed away from overhauling the liquor licensing regime, which had been labelled by Mr Cornelius as “ridiculously permissive”.
Turning his attention to the much-needed upgrade of Thompsons Road, Mr Guy once again criticized the Andrews government for allocating only $20.5 million in this year’s State Budget to duplicate the road despite promising $175 million for the upgrade prior to the election.
”That’s not a long term sustainable way of doing business as a government,” Mr Guy said.
“Throwing 10 per cent and claim that the problem’s fixed. If you’re going to do it, do it properly.
“Now I think Thompsons Road, it’s a big project, I think it’s nearly $200 million but anyone in the south-east knows … how important Thompsons Road is to be upgraded.
“It’s been talked about for a long time, it’s finally being planned, the money just needs to be committed.”
