Community safety
Brad BATTIN (Berwick – Leader of the Opposition) (14:20): My question is to the Premier. The CEO of Ritchies IGA said last night of retail crime that 95 per cent of their problems are in Victoria. ABS figures back him up, showing retail and personal theft is up by 29 per cent in Victoria, compared to 1 per cent in New South Wales and falling across the country. Can the Premier explain why Victoria is the retail crime capital of Australia?
Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:20): Acknowledging the Leader of the Opposition’s question, I indeed answered a question last sitting week that went to the unacceptable behaviour that is being displayed in retail settings being why we are bringing strengthened legislation to protect retail workers to this Parliament later this year.
Brad BATTIN (Berwick – Leader of the Opposition) (14:21): Wesfarmers chief executive Rob Scott has said:
The only area where we’re seeing stronger growth in Victoria is the sale of home security products within Bunnings … It’s quite a sad statistic to be sharing.
Why has the government made the state so unsafe that Victorians struggling with the cost-of-living crisis are now forced to buy security products to protect their families?
Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:21): In terms of supporting Victorians and listening to Victorians and their experiences, it is why we have brought in tougher penalties for repeat serious offending. Listening to retail workers is why we are strengthening the legislation for better protections for retail workers. Listening to Victorians about their challenges with cost-of-living pressures is why we are bringing in free PT for kids from next year. It is why we have another round of the power saving bonus. It is why we have doubled food relief for Victorian families.
Bridget Vallence: On a point of order, Speaker, it is not for the Premier to bring in extraneous matters. This is quite specific about why Victorians are having to buy security systems for their homes. I would ask you to ask the Premier to come back to that question, on relevance.
The SPEAKER: The question referred to a cost-of-living crisis. The Premier was being relevant.
Jacinta ALLAN: I appreciate the Manager of Opposition Business might not want to hear about the cost-of-living support we are providing to Victorian families, but I know Victorians do. Whether it is across public transport, electricity bills, the work around food relief, the work that is happening in schools with making sure breakfast clubs are in every school, alongside the Smile Squad and free glasses for kids, this is how we are supporting the Victorian people.