Tuesday, 5 May 2026

 Anthony CARBINES (Ivanhoe – Leader of the House, Minister for Police, Minister for Community Safety, Minister for Victims, Minister for Racing) (12:25): I am pleased to rise and thank the men and women of Victoria Police – out there day and night, 24/7, keeping our community safe. In particular, can I just say that we have been very pleased to announce a further $62 million to recruit some 200 police reservists. These are experienced police officers who have done great service in our community and who are coming back to support their fellow officers in roles around administration and investigative work. This is to allow further police officers to get out on the front line, to get in the vans, while those who they trust and know, experienced former officers, provide that service in our police stations and in the community. For those 200 reservists, we have had a record number of applications and expressions of interest already. We are very pleased to welcome back former experienced serving Victoria Police officers as part of a $62 million plan to bring police reservists back to our state.

I also want to touch on the $18.3 million for some 3000 new mobile devices. When police are out on the road keeping people safe, we want them to have the latest technology so they can stay out on the road, not be buried in paperwork, and that investment in those 3000 new mobile devices will assist them in that work. We have also announced $44 million for an additional 50 protective services officers, and we know what a great role they are playing in our community. Through Operation Pulse in our shopping centres we have seen 1000 arrests and we have seen 2000 charges laid. Those 50 additional PSOs will be deployed where Victoria Police deploy them – not where politicians might like to see them deployed, but where police see them needed in our community.

I want to also say thank you to our Victoria Police members who, through a range of other works that we are doing, have seen the academy full, with double squads of up to 50 recruits on Friday every fortnight at the police academy. Our Made for More campaign is delivering results. These investments in Victoria Police – the largest police service in the country – are continuing to deliver results for our community and keeping them safe.