'ethnic gang warfare on the streets' of Melbourne

July 09, 2007

Liberal MP Bernie Finn told Parliament last month he was disturbed by the gang activity he saw on a recent tour of Sunshine with local youth worker Les Twentyman...

"It is gang warfare . . . it is ethnic gang warfare on the streets of Sunshine."

The Upper House member for Western Metropolitan said he saw groups of teenagers, in school uniform, gather in their ethnic tribes.

"Violence appeared to be brewing," Mr Finn said.

Mr Twentyman said the problems started in November 2005 when three Sudanese girls were being hassled by a group of teenagers on a train.

The girls text-messaged friends and about 40 Sudanese were waiting when the train reached Sunshine station. The teenagers were badly bashed.

"It's been tit for tat ever since," Mr Twentyman said.

He said the main gangs were of Vietnamese, Sudanese and Tongan origin.