Thursday, 16 October 2025

 Annabelle CLEELAND (Euroa) (14:49): (1331) My question is to the Minister for Police. How do police officers maintain their station gardens and lawns if they have been banned from hiring garden and maintenance staff? Across my electorate, at Kilmore, Seymour, Nagambie and Benalla stations, police are frustrated and embarrassed by the state of their workplaces. Grass is sky high, weeds are overgrown and once-proud stations now look completely neglected. Victoria Police has confirmed that due to budget cuts all ground maintenance has been stopped. That means no mowing, no garden upkeep and no regular vehicle washing. Some officers have even reported snake sightings because of the long grass. Others have said they have to bring in their own mowers from home just to keep their stations presentable, only to be told they cannot do this for OH&S reasons. They deserve safe, clean and respectable workplaces, not to be left embarrassed by overgrown weeds and unkempt grounds. Even more concerning is that I have been told highway patrol units are now restricted from starting early shifts to avoid paying penalty rates. This is happening while Victoria’s road toll is at the highest it has been.