Former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett says he is frustrated over rising crime rates and perceived government inaction in Melbourne.

“We have so many things going for us as a state and as a country, and yet we are financially going down … very quickly, which is affecting all of our services,” Mr Kennett said.

“We’ve now got this lack of focus on actually addressing this lawlessness, which has almost become a competition between some of our young today.

“Where is our government? Why isn’t our government protecting us? Why isn’t our government changing the laws as a matter of urgency?”