Wednesday, 27 August 2025

Public Accounts and Estimates Committee

Report on the 2024‒25 Budget Estimates

Emma KEALY (Lowan) (10:27): I would like to debate the Public Accounts and Estimates committee 2024–25 budget estimates report, which was tabled in October of last year. There are a number of recommendations and findings that that committee have accumulated and put forward in this report, and the first finding I would like to refer to is finding 38 in regard to Victoria Police experiencing recruitment challenges similar to other Australian jurisdictions.

In reflecting upon this recommendation, or this finding, I would like to pay my respects to Victoria Police members today. We have had a horrific situation unfold yesterday, which certainly I think has hit home hard to every family member of Victoria Police, every current member, every past member and everybody who has had any contact with Victoria Police over the years. We know that Victoria Police members are there for Victorians on their worst day, and every single day they put aside their sense of risk for their sense of duty. I pay my respects to the two members that were killed yesterday. As the police commissioner Mike Bush said, they were murdered in cold blood. I wish them the best in their activities today, which include putting aside dealing with the trauma of losing someone who has been a workmate, a colleague, someone who potentially many people in Victoria Police were working with and finding the suspect today. They knew him, and they have to put aside the realisation of the risk that they take each and every day to do their job, to do their duty; they turn up to protect Victorians. That has to be commended; it has to be commended. We all attend blue ribbon remembrance or police remembrance day services, and I would just put the call out to anybody: if you see a police officer on the street, thank them for what they do, because without them Victoria would be in a horrific state.

I have spoken to some of my local members, and while they might not be assisting to deal with the matters in the north-east of the state, they have been equally rattled by these events. We have had local police who have been injured or harmed on duty. We have had local police officers who have taken their own lives.

I would urge any member of Victoria Police, or their family members, because we know that family members sit at home wondering and worrying about where their loved ones are and if they will come home – when we are reminded of a situation like this, it is particularly impactful on children of our members: if you require support, please use the helplines that are available and the supports that are provided. Because it is understood that part of Victorian policing requires you to deal with issues that most humans could not deal with, often people do not reach out for help, because it is just expected that they have to deal with mental trauma and compartmentalise it and just get on with the job. But if you have those conversations early, whether you are a police officer or whether you are a family member, reach out to support and it may help you on your journey going forward.

Again, I thank all the police officers, who are working very, very hard in the north-east of Victoria and right across the state. I pay my respects to the colleagues of the two members who were killed yesterday. I pay my respects to the third member, who I understand is in hospital and has had surgery to help manage a gunshot wound to the leg; I wish him a full and speedy recovery. I send out my respects to all of the family members and friends of the deceased. I also send out my appreciation, my thanks and my gratitude. On behalf of the members of the National Party, the members of my electorate of Lowan and every single Victorian, thank you for what you do day in, day out. We appreciate what you do, we are thankful for what you do and we highly respect everything you do for our community.