Tuesday, 19 March 2024

Responses

Anthony CARBINES (Ivanhoe – Minister for Police, Minister for Crime Prevention, Minister for Racing) (19:24): In the first instance the member for Caulfield, who has returned to join us, raised a matter for the Minister for Transport Infrastructure. The action that he sought was that the minister direct the level crossing removal authority to fix the unusable track between Caulfield and Glenhuntly stations. I did check out the very impressive Glenhuntly station when I went to the Beth Weizmann centre with the member for Caulfield. On my way out there I went past the Glenhuntly station – from the outside, very impressive.

The member for Tarneit raised a matter for the Minister for Public and Active Transport seeking a visit and a meeting with him in Tarneit to discuss local buses and bus services that are critical to amenity and community in his electorate. The member for Lowan raised a matter for the Minister for Environment, and the action that she sought was that there be a provision for new information and research and the publishing of that information regarding the nonlethal dingo control measures that were stated in public around 14 March, and I will be sure to pass that on to the Minister for Environment. The member for Kororoit raised a matter for the Minister for Education seeking a visit from the Deputy Premier to join her at Lakeview Senior College to check out the elite AFL and soccer programs that are being run there.

The member for Sandringham raised a matter for the Minister for Roads and Road Safety seeking an extension of the 40-kilometre-per-hour school zone on Warrigal Road, particularly where it meets Beach Road. This is very important of course to St Bede’s, the member for Sandringham’s alma mater. I should say that it is not often that members in this place get the opportunity to also represent the community and the electorate where they went to school, a privilege that both the member for Sandringham and I share. I am not sure whether the member for Sandringham secured $11.5 million for his alma mater for a performing arts centre which is being delivered, but I am sure he will have his opportunity in good time; I will not be making that opportunity available anytime soon. But this is an important matter, of course, to extend the 40-kilometre-per-hour zone. All school zones are very important for the safety of all students and families, and I will be sure to pass that on to the Minister for Roads and Road Safety.

The member for Point Cook raised a matter for the Deputy Premier and education minister. He is keen to have him visit, and the action he seeks is with regard to the location of P–9 and specialist schools in his electorate, a very significant and growing electorate where community services and education investment are critical. The member for Melbourne raised a matter for the Minister for Agriculture seeking a cessation of accepting logs from native forests in Tasmania, which, according to the member for Melbourne, are going to sawmills here in Victoria.

The member for Laverton raised a matter for me, and I do want to respond to that, about visiting Sunshine police station. Sunshine of course, as the member for Laverton would know from when we visited it last, is an absolute workhorse. If you want to roll your sleeves up and know what real policing is about, get allocated out there to Sunshine. I was at the police academy recently talking to graduates, just last week. I asked them where they were being stationed and some were heading to Sunshine, and I know that they will learn all about the significant role of community safety and policing at Sunshine’s busy station and in particular about some of the services we are providing there through our youth crime prevention programs – some $30 million, particularly around the Melton, Shepparton and Brimbank areas, where those programs are having a very significant effect in providing opportunities for young people who get caught up in the justice system. We have seen through our $40 million investment in crime prevention programs a drop driving down a 29 per cent reduction in reoffending, a reduction in offending for participants in those programs and, certainly for those who reoffend, a big drop in the severity of their reoffending when it occurs. This forms part of $100 million in our youth crime prevention program work: some 940 crime prevention projects that are having a significant impact on youth crime and also turning around the futures of our young people. Just lastly, there was our $7 million investment last year to expand the embedded youth outreach program, EYOP, which of course is about ensuring that Victoria Police members are embedded with youth workers in communities to make sure that they are with children and young people and with our youth workers supporting them at the times they need it most. That program is working really successfully and well, and I look forward to catching up with the member for Laverton in Sunshine and again thanking the Sunshine police members for the very significant work that they do. It is a very significant and hardworking crew out there.

The member for Euroa raised a matter for the Minister for Health, and her action is to ensure that the health service continues to be appropriately funded in the upcoming state budget. She did make much mention of health services across Euroa and also in Euroa, and I give a shout-out to my great aunt Julie O’Brien in Euroa while I am at it. The hardworking member for Broadmeadows raised a matter for the Minister for Prevention of Family Violence and is keen to see a visit there. An action that she seeks is to visit some of the really significant services in her community that are trying to drive down family violence, and particularly I know that when we have caught up with police services a very significant driver of our work with local police out there in Broadmeadows is of course their engagement with family violence. In visiting Safe Steps and some of the really important services to help people heal and rebuild their lives, I know that the Minister for Prevention of Family Violence, along with the member for Broadmeadows, will make sure that they understand the value and the contribution those services make and that it is appreciated by the house.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The house stands adjourned until tomorrow morning.

House adjourned 7:31 pm.