Thursday, 5 March 2026

 Lily D’AMBROSIO (Mill Park – Minister for Climate Action, Minister for Energy and Resources, Minister for the State Electricity Commission) (10:19): Last week I attended the annual Victoria Police neighbourhood policing forum in South Morang titled Our Community, Your Safety, Our Priority. The forum was hosted by a Victoria Police panel of senior-ranked members who addressed the results of their fourth annual Victoria Police community sentiment survey. The panel was comprised of senior members including the commander and Assistant Commissioner Brett Curran, divisional commander Superintendent Kelly Lawson and local area commander Assistant Acting Inspector Matthew Wheeler.

It was an excellent opportunity for community members to have their questions answered and to see what action is being taken to address them. I attended to listen to community concerns. It is through listening to the concerns of our community that the Allan Labor government is taking strong action to tackle violent crime, especially by young people. As we know, the Labor government’s adult time for violent crime laws took effect from last Friday, which will ensure that youth offenders face serious consequences for violent crimes. It is these actions and the important bail reforms our government implemented last year, the police operation to put PSOs in shopping centres being extended now and the violence reduction unit which are helping to make communities safer. This is all backed by the biggest police force in the country. I want to thank all members of Victoria Police for the work that they put into our community, for keeping everybody safe. We will continue to back our police and to support the communities that they serve so faithfully and so unreservedly.