Update, 5.09pm:
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ASSAULTS on staff at youth justice centres won't be tolerated, Minister for Youth Justice Ben Carroll has reiterated following criticism from the leader of the opposition.
"The behaviour that we have seen overnight from a number of young people is appalling and our staff shouldn't have to put up with it," Mr Carroll said.
"The safety of our hard working and dedicated staff is paramount and violent behaviour or assaults at youth justice centres won't be tolerated."
Mr Carroll said he had been briefed on the situation.
"My focus is on supporting all of our youth justice workers," he said.
"Tough new laws are now in effect - which we introduced - that strengthen consequences for young people who assault youth justice custodial workers or damage property.
"This includes a presumption they will serve their sentences on top of an existing period of detention."
He said the government had made unprecedented investment of over $1.2-billion on the youth justice system for new and upgraded facilities, additional staff, and expanded programs and interventions for offenders.
"We won't be lectured to by the Liberals who left our youth justice system in crisis," Mr Carroll said.
A Worksafe spokesperson said Worksafe had visited the Malmsbury Youth Justice Precinct and was investigating a number of incidents.
Update, 2pm:
WORKERS at Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre are preparing to meet with Worksafe regarding safety concerns.
The centre is believed to be in lockdown as a health and safety cease work continues.
It comes after three staff members were taken to hospital in two days, after two separate assaults.
Speaking to the media in Melbourne, Victorian opposition leader Michael O'Brien said violence against staff members at the youth justice precinct was a real concern.
"Not only are staff not safe, but these young offenders are turning out more violent when they leave than when they arrive," he said.
He said the government had lost control of the youth justice system and needed to urgently step in to ensure staff were safe.
"Make sure these young offenders are not allowed to continue with this sort of behaviour and make sure they are rehabilitated so that the public is safe when they are released," Mr O'Brien said.
"We've seen staff not having the right resources or the support they need to get these young offenders back under control."
He said the youth justice system needed more staff, more resources, and the right facilities to keep violent offenders away from the general population in youth justice precincts.
A response has been sought from the minister.
Earlier:
MALMSBURY Youth Justice Centre workers are taking part in a health and safety cease work, after a series of incidents.
A health and safety representative at the site authorised the cease work this morning.
Read more:
A Community and Public Sector Union spokesperson said Worksafe had been called to the site.
He said the union was meeting with management about what was required to make the site safe for staff to return to work.
The Bendigo Advertiser reported in 2016 that a rapid increase of young offenders being placed on remand in the youth justice system had created "dangerous" conditions at the Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre.
That year WorkSafe issued an improvement notice to the facility, after 41 incidents of "occupational violence towards staff" in August.
Worksafe has been contacted for comment.
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