Wednesday, 18 February 2026

 Anthony CARBINES (Ivanhoe – Minister for Police, Minister for Community Safety, Minister for Victims, Minister for Racing) (14:26): The Allan Labor government of course invests in Victorians and frontline services: 24/7 emergency response from Victoria Police and PSO members, and we thank them for their service every day. Our Made for More campaign has seen a record number, over five years now, of applications from people seeking to join Victoria Police. Not only that, probably a 20 per cent pay rise for frontline police secured last year by our government is about valuing frontline workers and the services they provide right across our state.

Can I say further that we are backing the Chief Commissioner of Police in his work to get more former police back to the blue family, with those former members to serve as police reservists who want to come back and provide back-of-house services so we can put more police on the front line. We welcome the fact that so many have decided to put their hand up and have expressed interest in this program. I say also there may be other former police members in this place for whom perhaps other job opportunities have not quite worked out, and a police reservist opportunity may be just the career for them.

Can I also say that our violence reduction unit is a $20 million program which is about turning lives around, finding jobs for young people and providing them with a second chance. I am very disappointed, though, that some have said, ‘The truth is that the violence reduction unit is not about reducing crime.’ I would say that that program is about turning lives around, and I would have thought that if you were Mrs Hermans in the other place you would be about supporting second chances, as they do in the Liberal Party. They have gone through enough leaders to support second chances. You can back the Allan Labor government to back workers.

The SPEAKER: I remind the minister to direct his statements through the Chair.

James Newbury: On a point of order, I do not think I need to raise with you, Speaker, but I will, that the minister is misusing his ministers statement by attacking the opposition.

The SPEAKER: The minister has concluded his ministers statement.