Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has been accused by his political opponents of "victim-blaming" in an unlikely war of words with social media influencer Rebecca Judd.
The premier on Sunday dismissed her complaint she felt "unsafe" following a spate of crime in and around Brighton, where she owns a $7.3 million mansion.
Judd took to social media saying the state government didn't "seem to care" about the crimes in the area.
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"So sick of the rapes, bashings and home invasions at the hands of gangs in Bayside," she wrote on Instagram on Thursday.
"The state government don't seem to care. We feel unsafe."
In Preston today, Andrews hit back at the comments, saying he wasn't interested in having an argument with the influencer.
"I'm also obliged to point out, though. I think there are more than 70 additional police in the Bayside area," he said.
"She might have missed this this, others might have missed this, 502 additional sworn officers and 50 PSOs.
"Victoria Police being properly resourced."
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Brighton MP James Newbury said the premier's comments were unacceptable.
"No woman should be dismissed or victim blamed because they're scared after a string of home invasions in their community," he said.
Andrews said the crime rate in the area did not reflect the influencer's views.
"I'm sorry she feels that way; the data will tell a different story," he said.
"But it is about personal feelings and your sense of safety, and I hope that knowing those things, or perhaps learning those things, puts her mind at ease."
