Victoria to Spend $700 Million Expanding Prison System to Deal With Crime Wave

This comes amid a surge in crime in Victoria in 2024, with the number of criminal incidents increasing by 18.7 percent.

The scene of a fatal collision involving young men and a stolen car at the intersection of Warrigal Road and Highbury Road, in Melbourne, Australia on July 3, 2024. AAP Image/Diego Fedele

Victoria will spend over $700 million (US$446 million) to expand the capacity of the state’s prison and justice system.

On May 13, the Victorian government said $727 million would be allocated in the upcoming 2025 state budget to address the ongoing crime issue.