Thursday, 20 June 2024

Questions without notice and ministers statements

Community safety

John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:02): My question is to the Premier. It was revealed earlier today that all crime has gone up by more than 10 per cent across Victoria. Why has it become more dangerous to live in Victoria under a Labor government?

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:03): I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. The Leader of the Opposition raised a question regarding the crime statistics that were released this morning. I note from the release of the crime statistics from the independent Crime Statistics Agency that they go through a range of matters that are occurring across the state and particularly make observations in terms of, yes, some of the challenges that are presented but also in terms of how the stats demonstrate that the true crime rate remains 6.2 per cent below the rate before the pandemic. This is important to note. The question from the Leader of the Opposition went to observations about what is happening under a Labor government. I can tell you about what is happening under this Labor government. We have invested $4.5 billion in Victoria Police.

Members interjecting.

Jacinta ALLAN: I note the Leader of the Opposition is having a crack at Victoria Police by saying that investment is not working.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Members will be removed without warning today.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the Premier is debating the question and needs to stop talking down crime.

The SPEAKER: I ask the Premier to come back to the question.

Jacinta ALLAN: There is the investment of $4.5 billion in Victoria Police. I understand the Leader of the Opposition struggles to understand how that investment is about supporting community safety, because when the Liberal Party were in government they failed to fund one single additional police officer.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The level of noise is unacceptable. Members will be removed without warning.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the Premier is continuing to debate the question.

The SPEAKER: I ask the Premier to come back to the question.

Jacinta ALLAN: I reference our investment in Victoria Police in contrast with the failure of the former government to invest in Victoria Police because this investment has resulted in an additional 3600 police in Victoria Police, and as I said yesterday, there are more coming through the academy. This is important in terms of when we have a conversation about community safety. We need to invest in Victoria Police, and that is exactly what we are doing.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The member for Polwarth can leave the chamber for an hour.

Member for Polwarth withdrew from chamber.

Jacinta ALLAN: What we also know we need to do is provide police with the tools and resources that they need to tackle the challenges that do exist with crime rates across the state. That is why this week in introducing the new youth justice reform – and I am conscious that it is sitting on the notice paper, so I will not anticipate debate – I note that on Tuesday when I was asked about these matters I referred to that bill as giving police more tools, particularly to tackle some of the challenges that we know we have around youth crime. Indeed Victoria Police’s media statement today identifies this itself. That is why we are investing in Victoria Police but also driving reform to give police the tools they need to address the challenges that we acknowledge we do face around youth recidivism.

John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:07): Crime data released today reveals that youth crime has gone up a staggering 20 per cent. Why has the Premier failed to keep Victorians safe from violent youth crime?

Members interjecting.

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:07): The Leader of the Opposition is interjecting across the table about investment. We are proud of our investment in Victoria Police. We are absolutely proud of our investment. I will not talk out of the side out of my mouth, like the opposition leader is doing in this space, talking down the work of Victoria Police.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the Premier is again debating the question and talking down crime.

The SPEAKER: I ask the Premier to come back to the question.

Jacinta ALLAN: In Victoria Police’s media statement today they talk about targeting this issue as a top priority – a top priority for Victoria Police – and they reference the work that they are doing through Operation Alliance and Operation Trinity. It is particularly Operation Trinity where Victoria Police are out every night from dusk till dawn working on these challenges, and I want to thank them for that work. We are going to give them additional tools and resources with the introduction of the Youth Justice Bill. It is about exactly addressing the recidivism challenges that are addressed here in Victoria Police’s media statement.