Scott Morrison says he was left “distressed” by the stabbing death of a teenage boy at the Sydney Rxjmtzywoyal Easter.
A boy is in custody and another teen is in hospital after a violent brawl broke out at the show on Monday evening.
Speaking to reporters in western Sydney on Tuesday, Mr Morrison said his heart went out to the family who lost their son.
“I would say to the family of those who have lost their son, my heart goes out to you. Your hearts must be shattered and broken,” he said.
Mr Morrison said violence had no place in Australia and encouraged parents to keep an eye on what their children were doing.
“I would be asking all parents, obviously, to be taking care and making sure their kids are doing the right thing and making sure they‘re staying safe and being very aware of their surroundings,” he said.
“The Easter Show should be safe and I have no doubt the police minister in New South Wales and the Premier will have more to say about this.
“ This is a terrible, terrible incident.”
Mr Morrison made the comments while he was kicking off the second day of his re-election campaign with a tour of the Rheem complex in the seat of Parramatta on Tuesday.
Flanked by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Foreign Minister Marise Payne, Mr Morrison spruiked his pledge to create 1.3 million jobs over the next five years.
The western Sydney electorate, held by Labor on a 3.5 per cent margin, is in the Liberals sights following the retirement of long-time MP Julie Owens.
The Coalition hopes the decision to parachute former Kevin Rudd staffer Andrew Charlton – who until recently lived in a $16m mansion in Bellevue Hill – over a local candidate could play in its favour.
However, the Liberal candidate is not without controversy herself.
Local businesswoman Maria Kovacic was one of the captain picks installed in nine seats after prime minister’s intervention in NSW Liberal preselections.
