“I’ll tell you another thing I can offer. If they live in Melbourne, they’ve got a place that’s dealing with youth crime, and they won’t get stabbed. That’s a good start.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
The remark drew mixed reactions from attendees at the Brisbane event.<\/p>\n
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A video of a 36-year-old West Melbourne woman being stabbed on her way to work prompted the Victorian opposition leader to label the state the country’s crime capital.<\/p>\n
The woman was left with non-life-threatening injuries, and she has said she was unable to work or go out of her house alone.<\/p>\n
In a statement released late on Friday, Mr Crisafulli apologised for his comment.<\/p>\n
“It was a poor choice of words because every victim matters, regardless of where they live, and I apologise for any distress,” he said.<\/p>\n
“I’m fully aware of the realities of crime and knife crime in Queensland, which is why we are working every day to keep driving down victim numbers through initiatives such as Jack’s Law.<\/p>\n
“No-one can guarantee there’ll be no crime, but that should never deter us from driving down victim numbers.”<\/p>\n
A number of high-profile knife crimes, including the stabbing death of 70-year-old Vyleen White<\/a>, and the murder of 20-year-old Emma Lovell, had sent shock waves through the state in recent years.<\/p>\n David Crisafulli says “every victim matters” and his comment was a poor choice of words. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)<\/p>\n Queensland Deputy Opposition Leader Cameron Dick, who also attended the event, said in a statement he was taken aback by the premier’s remark.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n