Influencers, Melbourne locals leap to Bec Judds defence in war of words with Daniel Andrews

Bec Judd’s neighbours have leapt to her defence following her spat with Victorian Premier Dan Andrews over a string of home invasions in Melbourne’s upmarket Bayside area.

Ms Judd, a mother of four, owns a $7.3 million Brighton mansion with former AFL star husband Chris.

She took to Instagram to accuse the Victorian state government of allowing crime to get out of hand in the ritzy area.

Mr Andrews said he’s “not interested in having an argument with Ms Judd” after she claimed the state government doesn’t care about Brighton residents’ safety concerns.

“I’m also obliged to point out, though, I think there are more than 70 additional police in the Bayside area,” Mr Andrews said.

But Ms Judd’s rant seems to have struck a chord with other residents in the area.

Social media influencer and lawyer Zana Pali said neighbours had created WhatsApp groups to discuss local crime, admitting they were “terrified” by recent incidents.

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“We are part of a neighbourhood watch WhatsApp group as we’ve had to take matters into our own hands because we don’t have the assistance,” Ms Pali said.

“We’ve also organised private security because we do feel unsafe.

“I think it’s unfair that she (Bec Judd) has copped backlash, she’s just saying how we all feel and at the end of the day it’s easy to judge, but we are all living in fear.

“Break-ins are happening every second night, it’s too frequent. We need a police station in the area and a bigger police presence.”

Local Steve Wolf says the suburb has become “astronomically worse” since he moved in in February 2019.

Official statistics say crime is down by 18.8 per cent in the same period.

Mr Wolf said he has had his front gate smashed and a Liberal Party sign on his fence slashed with knives. He also says he has been the victim of an attempted carjacking while driving his Ferrari.

“‘I’m frightened to have my daughter over to stay with me — she’s only 11,” he told Neil Mitchell on 3AW.

“It has become unbelievably violent. I quite often go to Brazil and the violence here is astronomical, it would put Rio to shame.”

It came as Ms Judd’s local MP hit back at the Victorian Premier after he rebuffed her concerns.

James Newbury, who represents Brighton in the Victorian state parliament, made his stance clear after Mr Andrews was accused of “victim blaming” Ms Judd on Sunday.

Mr Newbury said the Premier’s quips struck a nerve with women in his electorate who felt their concerns about local crime have been dismissed.

“There has been an extraordinary number of women who have frankly been offended by the way he dismissed those comments and those feelings,” he said.

“His behaviour in the press conference showed, in my view, that he has a problem with women.

“I mean, it was clear when he pretended to not remember Bec Judd’s name (at the press conference).”

Barrister and former Real Housewives of Melbourne star Gina Liano said the issue was “happening everywhere”.

“All suburbs have issues with gangs and threats and home invasions. It is a real issue, this is happening everywhere,” the Brighton-born star said.

“There is an increase in violence across the board and particularly violence with young men..

“Everyone has a right to feel scared and unsafe. Why condemn her (Judd) when she does? Just because someone lives in a nice house doesn’t mean they have less anxiety or feelings about things.”

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