Thursday, 5 February 2026

 Anthony CARBINES (Ivanhoe – Minister for Police, Minister for Community Safety, Minister for Victims, Minister for Racing) (14:41): I rise today to thank Victoria Police for the work they do each and every day to keep Victorians safe. Our police are working hard in all weather, all hours, 24/7 to keep Victorians safe and make a record number of arrests, some 78,000 up to the last quarter. As we all know, 24/7 an emergency response is available to all Victorians. Just call 000. But you cannot catch crooks without a visible police presence. Operation Pulse at Fountain Gate shopping centre, at Northland, at Eastland and of course at Highpoint has been welcomed by businesses and welcomed by shoppers. We have seen PSOs and police out there in force across the summer at our shopping centres.

We have also been able to welcome new recruits to the police academy, with a record number of applications, the highest number in the past five years, which has seen a record number of recruits apply to join the academy every fortnight and to graduate. These are not star recruits. These are everyday Victorians, people who are prepared to step up and step in to support and serve the Victorian community. Just like people on this side of the house, they come from all walks of life but are prepared to step up and step in. They are not quitters. They do not walk away. They are stepping up to support Victorians and uphold the law.

Can I say also that our laws have changed here in Victoria. We have responded and have seen youth remand rates up some 40 per cent and up 26 per cent for adults, which is a demonstration that consequences matter in the community. We will back our police and back our courts and make sure that consequences are delivered for those who thumb their nose at the law. We are also about turning around lives and young people who make mistakes by investing in the opportunities to make sure they can make a better contribution to Victorians with great new programs such as our violence reduction unit. Our commitment is that the Allan government is on your side. We will not walk away. We will not quit.