On Friday evening, the 13th of March, a vigil was held in honour of 22-year-old Aidan Becker, a courageous, community hero who gave his life defending a 14-year-old boy during an armed robbery at Mernda Station, South Morang. On the evening of Friday, 8th March, Aidan was allegedly brutally stabbed to death with a machete by a group of young teens. A young man gone before his time leaves devastated communities across Victoria asking the painful question: how many more tragedies must occur before governments take their duty to protect citizens seriously?
Tragedies like this highlight the importance of leadership, and the Allen government has a lot to answer for. Their passive, cowardly stance in shoving the machete-bin-pacifier-program down our throats was their absolute failure to exercise authority through legislation, policing and corrections systems. While governments cannot be held liable for every criminal act committed by individuals, they have a duty of care to administer justice in a way that protects the community from foreseeable harm and in this instance, Jacinta knew machete-wielding bandits were a danger to society and failed to respond appropriately, which provides enough evidence to find her guilty of negligence.
At the same time, the Judiciary must also be held accountable for the alarming rise in youth crime. Criminal behaviour, even when committed by minors, should not be treated with flippant leniency. If we want to prevent the cycle of repeat offending, each case must be treated with the severity it deserves. Judges who fail to impose just consequences put public safety at risk and should be subject to scrutiny. Investigations into whether they have neglected their duty of care to the public must be conducted.
The role of prosecutors to pursue appropriate sentencing outcomes is equally important. They should be vigilant in using the appeals process to strengthen sentencing and ensure the safety of community remains paramount whenever necessary.
Beyond punishment, the implementation of structured intervention programs should be considered. Parents of underaged criminals should be made to participate in family counselling or training programs to assist them with disciplining or teaching their children prosocial behaviours. Holding parents legally accountable in cases of repeated underage youth offending would send a powerful message that even the duty of care within families matters greatly.
Many young offenders are in desperate need of more than short-term detention followed by release back into potentially destructive environments. Many require holistic, military-style programs or structured rehabilitation camps focused on discipline, responsibility, and identity. When individuals gain an understanding of who they are and discover a sense of purpose and belonging, they are not merely able to survive but also able to thrive. My recommendation is that such interventions incorporate a Christian foundation. Faith-based principles can guide moral development, restore personal responsibility, and foster lasting transformation.
The death of Aidan Becker should be a wake-up call to governments and the community at large. Failure to restore firm and consistent justice can only lead to the erosion of public confidence and dangerous vigilantism. The people aren’t asking for perfection, but they do demand courage and strength. Any nation willing to tolerate crime and disorder will eventually reap the consequences. Meanwhile, may Aidan rest in peace knowing his family, though they mourn, can be proud of the heroic legacy he left behind. Let’s hope this encourages more young men to stand up and defend those who cannot defend themselves. It seems we are living in a time when they are most needed.
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves and defend the rights of the poor and needy” ( Prov 31:8-9)
https://youtu.be/WJtTMPD8J34?si=_b3MH8Wdv_Cl_5xI
Beauty For Ashes, Restoration 