Wednesday, 9 September 2026

 Paul EDBROOKE (Frankston – Minister for Police, Minister for Crime Prevention, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (14:14): Victorians know the difference between a Labor government who backs working people and the alternative, who have a plan for $40 billion in cuts. That is cuts in frontline services and sacking 30,000 hardworking Victorians. Victorians deserve to feel safe in their homes and in their local communities. They deserve a government who puts safety first, and only one party in this place can say they have recruited more than 3000 new frontline police officers. Only one party can say with confidence that they will back the thousands of locals here in Victoria who are putting their hand up to serve. But what do we hear from the alternative? With nearly 6000 local applications on hand right now those opposite would rather sideline locals for a sham plan to import officers from overseas. It is a plan that they know just will not work. Today it has been revealed that their plan is a complete hoax. You cannot make $40 billion worth of cuts –

Danny O’Brien: On a point of order, Speaker, the minister is clearly defying your earlier ruling and ignoring the 1500 police vacancies he still presides over.

The SPEAKER: The Leader of the Nationals will make his points of order in the correct manner.

Anthony Carbines: On the point of order, Speaker, in Rulings from the Chair Speaker Maddigan makes it very clear that a minister can canvass other policies that may affect government business, which is what the minister is doing.

The SPEAKER: Yes, I do not uphold the point of order.

Paul EDBROOKE: We have the largest police force in the country, backed by a record $5 billion investment in Victoria Police. They say they have a plan for double squads. Well, news flash, we are already delivering double squads, and we are recruiting 400 police reservists to get more cops out from behind desks and back on the beat. Almost 100 have already been deployed, with a double squad of reservists graduating next week. That is the Labor difference. We will always, always fight for working people. Victorians cannot afford the real risk of a Liberal–One Nation deviant government. We have employed –

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the minister should be sat down.

The SPEAKER: That is not a point of order. The minister will come back to his ministers statement without attacking the opposition, if he can.

Paul EDBROOKE: We are proud on this side of the house to have employed more than 3000 new police. Those opposite did not provide a single new police officer in their last term of government.

Annabelle Cleeland interjected.

The SPEAKER: The member for Euroa is warned.