Wednesday, 15 October 2025

 Tim READ (Brunswick) (14:26): My question is for the Minister for Police. In 2023 Victoria Police announced a $214 million deal with the US-based supplier Axon to supply the taser 7 model to over 10,000 officers over three years. It was said to offer improved technology, accuracy and safety. Is the minister confident that police officers have received adequate training in these Axon devices, including the aftercare, the removal of barbs and medical treatment?

 Anthony CARBINES (Ivanhoe – Minister for Police, Minister for Community Safety, Minister for Victims, Minister for Racing) (14:27): I thank the member for Brunswick for his question. I am very pleased that the billion dollars of infrastructure and equipment investment from our government for Victoria Police includes the rollout of up-to-date and new modern technology around our taser rollout. It is an over $200 million investment, which includes upgrades to police stations for the safe storage of that new technology. It is about having nonlethal capacity for Victoria Police to keep themselves safe but also to keep citizens safe in our community. The latest technology also ensures that these tasers have an interactive arrangement with body-worn cameras so that there is of course accountability both on our police members but also on those offenders and alleged offenders who might find themselves on the other end of that equipment, including our taser rollout.

We particularly made sure that the taser rollout was included across both our metropolitan and our regional communities. The taser rollout continues at this stage – it has not concluded – but I am always happy, if there is further advice or concerns that the member for Brunswick has on behalf of any organisations or oversight bodies, to not only make sure that we continue the safe rollout but also make sure that we protect both citizens and also those Victoria Police members who find themselves in challenging circumstances more often than not. Having the latest operational equipment and the latest technology available to give them a suite of options in how to keep the community safe is really important.

I will always take advice from members in this place and follow through to make sure not only that we are abiding by our obligations to the community but that we continue to make sure police have the appropriate equipment and also that it is being used effectively. I am confident that the investment from our government around the taser rollout is effective in terms of not only the training and the storage of these items but also the processes that are in place. It is about keeping our members safe and giving them further operational and tactical responses in certain circumstances and making sure we keep the community safe but also hold to account those who seek to do harm.

 Tim READ (Brunswick) (14:29): Amnesty International UK has warned of the dangers of Axon’s tasers. Is the minister aware of any incidents involving Victoria Police and the use of Axon tasers where barbs have not been properly removed or people have been harmed?

 Anthony CARBINES (Ivanhoe – Minister for Police, Minister for Community Safety, Minister for Victims, Minister for Racing) (14:30): I thank the member for Brunswick for his supplementary question, and I am happy to take further advice on whether there is evidence of engagement where those who have been the subject of tasers that have been used have concerns or oversight bodies have concerns about that. But I have no doubt that those who are affected by the deployment of tasers and that equipment are harmed; there is an expectation that is exactly what happens. There are reasons, through the training of Victoria Police members, to make sure that when they choose to use a nonlethal force such as tasers their operational decisions and their training allow them to make it so that they have an opportunity to defuse situations to keep people safe. In fact we have seen the deployment of tasers where just the operationalising of the taser before it is actually deployed is enough to bring people to heel. We will continue to use them effectively. I am happy to follow up any other matters.