HungryPanda delivery rider's fatal stabbing impacts election

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.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.He said it was another example of deteriorating public safety over the past 20 years.Jason Xin is a long-term Labor supporter but now plans to vote for another party. (Supplied: Jason Xin)"Public safety in Melbourne has reached an appalling level," said Mr Xin, a Chinese traditional medicine practitioner."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."It feels like Victoria isn't looking after hard-working people, and Melbourne perhaps is now the worst city in Australia to live in."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.Mr Xin said he wanted law reform to protect the right to self-defence against violence, especially during home invasions. He also hoped police would respond faster in emergencies."It's vital in deciding my vote, because security issues actually threaten your life," Mr Xin said.Hundreds of people gathered outside the State Library Victoria on Saturday night for a vigil for Feng Jianming. (ABC News: Keira Proust )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.But the crime rate peaked in 2025 after a general rising trend over 10 years, except during the pandemic 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.'They have not done enough'Some voters want harsher penalties for crime and faster police investigations. (ABC News: Jason Fang)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.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.He said his security camera captured the suspect's face, but police have not found the person. "They just told me to go to the insurance company. I'd emailed them for a follow-up but no updates," he said.Mr Liu said the fatal stabbing of Mr Feng last week reinforced his decision not to vote for Labor."[Public safety is] definitely worsening," Mr Liu said."They have not done enough."He wants a Liberal government to deliver harsher penalties for crime and faster police investigations.The ABC has contacted Victoria Police for 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."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.Labor has proposed to recruit 1,500 new officers and open a second police academy in Melbourne. They also promised to increase penalties for serious sexual offences, provide funds to install CCTV and security systems, as well as to target organised crime and cybercrime.The Coalition pledged to invest more in policing, including the recruitment of an additional 3,000 officers. They promised to target youth crime with a one-strike bail system, more funds in early intervention and rehabilitation 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.She has been following Australian politicians' posts after Mr Feng's death and is concerned that the tragedy has been "politicised". "Political parties and candidates got on board with this case quickly," she said.She observed that politicians from both the Liberal and Labor parties posted Chinese-subtitled videos about the 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.A RedNote account under the name of "Nick McGowan" posted a video addressing the Chinese community. (Supplied: RedNote/Nick McGowan)"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."That's exactly why we are standing with you."Victorian Premier Ben Carroll posted a video on RedNote on the same day."That's why knives have to be taken off our streets and police given the stop and search powers they need to do their job," Mr Carroll said.Crime is one of the key issues of the Victorian state election campaigns.It has been reported that Victorian police estimated it seized more than 15,000 machetes, zombie knives and other knives last year.Both Labor and Liberal promised to expand police stop and search powers to combat knife crime.A Labor spokesperson said Mr Carroll has made tackling crime his priority.The ABC contacted the Victorian Liberal Party and One Nation for comment.