In short:
Some in the Chinese community say the fatal stabbing of a HungryPanda delivery rider has influenced their voting decision ahead of the Victorian state election on November 28.
asserted
stabbing → say → November
They are calling for harsher penalties for crime and faster police investigations.
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They → call → crime
Both Labor and Liberal Party members have responded to the case on Chinese social media, sparking concerns that some might be "politicising" the tragedy.
uncertain
some → respond → tragedy
After news broke of the fatal stabbing involving a HungryPanda delivery rider, Jason Xin's social accounts were dominated for days by concerned messages from family and friends.
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accounts → break → family
Mr Xin, who lives in Eltham in Melbourne's north-east, told the ABC the attack on 47-year-old Feng Jianming last Friday night "had a huge impact" on the Chinese community.
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attack → live → community
He said it was another example of deteriorating public safety over the past 20 years.
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it → say → years
"Public safety in Melbourne has reached an appalling level," said Mr Xin, a Chinese traditional medicine practitioner.
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Xin → reach → level
"There are more and more home invasions and burglaries," he said, adding this was particularly the case for homes near train stations and other public transport.
"
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this → be → stations
It feels like Victoria isn't looking after hard-working people, and Melbourne perhaps is now the worst city in Australia to live in."
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Melbourne → feel → Australia
While Mr Xin has been a long-term Labor supporter, he said he planned to vote for another party in the Victorian state elections on November 28.
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he → say → November
Mr Xin said he wanted law reform to protect the right to self-defence against violence, especially during home invasions.
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he → say → invasions
He also hoped police would respond faster in emergencies.
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police → hop → emergencies
"It's vital in deciding my vote, because security issues actually threaten your life," Mr Xin said.
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Xin → decide → life
Figures from Victoria's Crime Statistics Agency show that the state's crime rate dropped by 3.8 per cent in the 12 months to June 2026.
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rate → show → June
But the crime rate peaked in 2025 after a general rising trend over 10 years, except during the pandemic years.
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rate → peak → years
Police also previously said the crime rate remained "unacceptably high" at about 13 per cent higher than three years ago, even though several major crimes, including home invasions, decreased.
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crimes → say → invasions
'They have not done enough'
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They → do → enough
Several Chinese community members told the ABC they were saddened by Mr Feng's death, and that public safety policies were a key issue that would influence their voting decision.
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that → tell → decision
Melbourne resident Kevin Liu, who owns a logistics company, told the ABC that he was disappointed with the police response after his warehouse was broken into last May.
uncertain
warehouse → own → response
He said his security camera captured the suspect's face, but police have not found the person.
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police → say → person
"They just told me to go to the insurance company.
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They → tell → company
I'd emailed them for a follow-up but no updates," he said.
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he → email → up
Mr Liu said the fatal stabbing of Mr Feng last week reinforced his decision not to vote for Labor.
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stabbing → say → Labor
"[Public safety is] definitely worsening," Mr Liu said.
"
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Liu → worsen → ?
They have not done enough."
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They → do → enough
He wants a Liberal government to deliver harsher penalties for crime and faster police investigations.
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government → want → crime
The ABC has contacted Victoria Police for comment.
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ABC → contact → comment
Mark Wang, another long-time Labor supporter, has long been concerned about youth crime in Melbourne and did not believe the government was doing enough.
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government → concern → enough
"Both Liberal and Labor in Victoria have brought up new measures [targeting crime], but I believe if Liberal win, they might be tougher in enforcement," he said.
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he → bring → enforcement
Labor has proposed to recruit 1,500 new officers and open a second police academy in Melbourne.
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Labor → propose → Melbourne
They also promised to increase penalties for serious sexual offences, provide funds to install CCTV and security systems, as well as to target
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They → promise → CCTV
The Coalition pledged to invest more in policing, including the recruitment of an additional 3,000 officers.
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Coalition → pledge → officers
They promised to target youth crime with a one-strike bail system, more funds in early intervention and rehabilitation programs.
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They → promise → programs
Concerns the tragedy is being 'politicised'
Fan Yang leads RECapture Research Lab, which monitors and analyses political content on Chinese-language social media including WeChat and RedNote.
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which → concern → WeChat
She has been following Australian politicians' posts after Mr Feng's death and is concerned that the tragedy has been "politicised".
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tragedy → follow → death
"Political parties and candidates got on board with this case quickly," she said.
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she → get → case
She observed that politicians from both the Liberal and Labor parties posted Chinese-subtitled videos about the incident.
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politicians → observe → incident
An account under the name "Nick McGowan" posted a video of the Victorian opposition leader Jess Wilson and Nick McGowan addressing the Chinese community on the second day following Mr Feng's death.
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leader → post → death
"We know that the community is absolutely shattered by what has happened and it's a really difficult time," Ms Wilson said in the video.
"
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Wilson → know → video
That's exactly why we are standing with you."
Victorian Premier Ben Carroll posted a video on RedNote on the same day.
"
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Carroll → stand → day
…and 5 more, not listed.
The Aporia
