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Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews is under immense pressure over why Brighton gunman Yacqub Khayre was allowed out in public despite his violent criminal record, with calls for him to resign over the suburban terrorism.
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How was he on parole asks PM
With revelations the alleged Brighton terror attacker had a long, violent criminal history, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says violent criminals being paroled is an issue.
Mr Andrews was drilled by the Opposition in a fiery question time in State Parliament about why Khayre was on parole – the same question raised by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull hours earlier.
Opposition Leader Matthew Guy repeatedly called on Mr Andrews to resign over the deadly siege in Melbourne's bayside.
"You are weak, and you should resign," Mr Guy yelled across the chamber.
Responding to questions, Mr Andrews paid tribute to police who responded to the incident, lashing Mr Guy's grandstanding.
"Playing politics with terror does not keep anyone in our state safe, it is as simple as that, and shame on you," Mr Andrews said.
Mr Andrews pointed out that Khayre was sentenced under the last government.
![Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews, Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton and Police Minister Lisa Neville at a press ...](http://web.archive.org./web/20170609030922im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/w/l/e/i/n/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gwlfoq.png/1496771348424.jpg)
Earlier on Tuesday Prime Minister Turnbull raised "grave questions" about why Khayre was on parole.
Mr Turnbull raised the issue with Mr Andrews and flagged it would be a "high priority" at a COAG meeting of federal and state leaders scheduled for this Friday in Hobart.
![Police at the scene of the terror attack.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170609030922im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/w/l/a/o/0/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gwlfoq.png/1496792015338.jpg)
"How was this man on parole? He had a long record of violence. A very long record of violence. He had been charged with a terrorist offence some years ago and had been acquitted. He was known to have connections, at least in the past, with violent extremism," Mr Turnbull said.
"This issue of parole has to be addressed. There have been too many cases of people on parole committing violent offences of this kind."
Speaking alongside Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton, Mr Andrews said Khayre had served "significant jail time" and had his sentence increased because of "terrible behaviour" in prison.
However, he said Khayre had complied with his bail conditions.
"He's been compliant, including drug tests, attending appointments and observing a curfew," he said.
Mr Andrews said it was a concern that somebody who was compliant with their parole would commit such a crime.
He insisted there were 800 less people on parole since the Callinan review was completed, which came after the brutal murder of Jill Meagher.
"We have the toughest parole regime anywhere in our nation. That is a good thing."
But Mr Andrews said the government stood ready to make changes in response to any aspect of the incident.
Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten also said if if there were lessons to be learned from the incident – such as tougher bail laws – authorities needed to heed those lessons.
The state Coalition also used the terror attack to ramp up its rhetoric on Victoria's rising crime rate and called on the Labor government to introduce mandatory sentences for violent offenders.
Mr Andrews also said he would allow police to fully investigate the Brighton siege before announcing any parole or legal reforms.
Also during question time, Health minister Jill Hennessy said Ambulance Victoria's response level had been raised to orange, the second highest level, during Monday's incident.