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| Victorian Liberal leader defends impromptu press conference at scene of fatal stabbing | Victorian Liberal leader defends impromptu press conference at scene of fatal stabbing |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Labor calls on Brad Battin to apologise after appearance at active crime scene before victim’s next of kin were notified | Labor calls on Brad Battin to apologise after appearance at active crime scene before victim’s next of kin were notified |
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| The Victorian opposition leader, Brad Battin, has defended taking a detour on his way to work to hold an impromptu press conference at the scene of a fatal stabbing in Melbourne’s south-east, saying he will continue to visit active crime scenes. | The Victorian opposition leader, Brad Battin, has defended taking a detour on his way to work to hold an impromptu press conference at the scene of a fatal stabbing in Melbourne’s south-east, saying he will continue to visit active crime scenes. |
| Emergency services were called to a petrol station on the corner of Potter Street and Princes Highway at Dandenong about 4.50am on Tuesday in response to reports a man had been stabbed. | Emergency services were called to a petrol station on the corner of Potter Street and Princes Highway at Dandenong about 4.50am on Tuesday in response to reports a man had been stabbed. |
| The man, 39, was treated by paramedics but died at the scene. | The man, 39, was treated by paramedics but died at the scene. |
| Battin told reporters he heard reports of the stabbing on the radio and decided to make a detour on his way to parliament. | Battin told reporters he heard reports of the stabbing on the radio and decided to make a detour on his way to parliament. |
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| “I was coming into work this morning, I heard it on the radio. It is an area that I was a Victoria police officer, and I have seen these crimes in these areas in the past,” he said. | “I was coming into work this morning, I heard it on the radio. It is an area that I was a Victoria police officer, and I have seen these crimes in these areas in the past,” he said. |
| “I then went there and spoke to the media. But the message was quite simple, the crime is out of control in the state.” | “I then went there and spoke to the media. But the message was quite simple, the crime is out of control in the state.” |
| Battin said he “did a press conference with the cameras” and spoke with police at the scene. | Battin said he “did a press conference with the cameras” and spoke with police at the scene. |
| He said he was unaware at the time that the victim’s body was still at the scene and his next of kin were yet to be contacted. | He said he was unaware at the time that the victim’s body was still at the scene and his next of kin were yet to be contacted. |
| Victorian government minister, Colin Brooks, said it was “appalling” that Battin stopped at the scene. | Victorian government minister, Colin Brooks, said it was “appalling” that Battin stopped at the scene. |
| “[The] government acknowledges the impacts of crime, particularly knife crime, is unacceptable,” Brooks told reporters. | |
| “But what we don’t need is politicians heading out to crime scenes, particularly if … family members haven’t been notified. That’s appalling behaviour from someone who aspires to be leader.” | “But what we don’t need is politicians heading out to crime scenes, particularly if … family members haven’t been notified. That’s appalling behaviour from someone who aspires to be leader.” |
| Brooks said while the opposition leader was “entitled to make political arguments” and “criticise the government” it was a “real error of judgement” to attend the scene. | Brooks said while the opposition leader was “entitled to make political arguments” and “criticise the government” it was a “real error of judgement” to attend the scene. |
| “He should apologise to the families,” Brooks said. | “He should apologise to the families,” Brooks said. |
| But Battin said he had no regrets about the press conference and would not apologise. | But Battin said he had no regrets about the press conference and would not apologise. |
| “If I’m out and about and there’s a crime scene and I pop past I will be making sure that people know what is going on in the state. I will continue to do that. I’ll continue to be the voice for Victoria police,” he said. | “If I’m out and about and there’s a crime scene and I pop past I will be making sure that people know what is going on in the state. I will continue to do that. I’ll continue to be the voice for Victoria police,” he said. |
| “For a minister to be more worried about me than they are worried about the fact that we’ve had people stabbed in the streets here in Victoria … that’s a disgrace.” | “For a minister to be more worried about me than they are worried about the fact that we’ve had people stabbed in the streets here in Victoria … that’s a disgrace.” |
| Police refused to comment when asked whether it was appropriate for Battin to be at an active crime scene. | Police refused to comment when asked whether it was appropriate for Battin to be at an active crime scene. |
| They said exact circumstances surrounding the man’s death were yet to be established, with homicide detectives investigating. | They said exact circumstances surrounding the man’s death were yet to be established, with homicide detectives investigating. |
| “At this early stage, it appears that the incident may have occurred at a nearby residence … before the man fled the address on foot,” police said. | “At this early stage, it appears that the incident may have occurred at a nearby residence … before the man fled the address on foot,” police said. |