Thursday, 22 February 2024

Ministers statements: police resources

Anthony CARBINES (Ivanhoe – Minister for Police, Minister for Crime Prevention, Minister for Racing) (14:16): I rise to update the house on the work the Allan Labor government is doing to ensure Victoria Police have the tools and resources they need to keep Victorians safe. Frontline police and protective services officers will be equipped with new conducted energy devices, better known as tasers, giving them more nonlethal options to safely respond to violent offenders. I recently joined the Chief Commissioner of Police at the police academy to announce that the government is investing $214 million to equip over 10,000 Victorian police and PSOs with tasers.

The rollout will give our frontline officers and PSOs another tactical option in their arsenal to make sure they can respond quickly and safely to active incidents, better protecting both officers and the community at large. Victoria Police will be equipped with the new generation 7 tasers, a model that offers improved technology, accuracy and speed. Those tasers will also activate body-worn cameras, ensuring that there are independent records of incidents. The rollout also includes specialist training for all frontline officers.

Our police are often called on to make split-second decisions in dynamic situations. They are highly trained, and we want them to make the hard calls. Victoria Police look to the blue uniform for leadership and safety. We will back our police when they follow their training and make the tough calls to keep Victorians safe.

This significant investment in technology is part of our government’s $4.5 billion investment in Victoria Police. It is funding that has delivered 3600 additional funded police officers and upgraded police stations across the state. We have the largest police service in the country. Our offence rate remains below 2019 prepandemic levels. I look forward to joining the member for Yan Yean at Mernda station tomorrow. We will get out to the Wodonga station as well and on Saturday to the single-officer station at Dederang, because wherever our police serve, in the largest cities and towns or our smallest communities, they continue to keep Victorians safe, and they will have the support to have every resource they need from the Allan Labor government to keep Victorians safe.

The SPEAKER: Order! I am very disappointed at the interjections while the minister was on his feet. Members will be removed without warning.