Tuesday, 16 June 2026

 Bridget VALLENCE (Evelyn) (13:20): Crime is a serious issue for the state. Under the Labor government police station closures have not addressed the rise in crime, with data showing patrols alone are not enough to drive down crime. We must get Mooroolbark police station reopened, and I am pushing for that and for the recruitment of the thousands more police that Victoria needs to help keep communities safer. Mooroolbark police station is now shut four days a week as a result of Victoria Police budget cuts by the Allan Labor government, and the result is a 22 per cent increase in crime in our community. Mooroolbark and Croydon police stations, and more than 40 others across Victoria, have had their hours drastically reduced, with the government line that this will get more police out from behind desks and into the community to prevent crime.

But the data clearly shows the strategy of closing police stations is not working. Where police stations have reduced hours, crime is up 22 per cent – higher than the statewide average. The types of crime that have gone up where a police station has been shut include car theft, stealing from a car, stealing from a shop, criminal damage, sexual offences and breaching of family violence orders. That is not fair to the residents of Mooroolbark and the Yarra Ranges. It is totally unacceptable. No amount of spin from the Labor government will satisfy people in my community that are suffering crime as a result. Our hardworking local police also deserve better. Where police stations have remained open, crime has gone up, but only by 15 per cent. We must keep our police stations open.