Wednesday, 9 September 2026

 Roma BRITNELL (South-West Coast) (19:00): (1829) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Police, and the action I seek is for the minister to give Victoria Police the powers and tools they are asking for to deal with repeat offenders, to keep our community safe. Crime is no longer something regional Victorians simply watch on the Melbourne news. It is happening in Warrnambool, Portland, Heywood and Terang, and people are frightened. Last week two males approximately 16 years of age entered Coles supermarket in Warrnambool. I am told they are well known to staff for regularly stealing and abusing workers, despite having been banned from the store. On this occasion, when they were asked to leave, the abuse escalated. A man in his 50s intervened. He was not looking for trouble. In fact he was a hero. He simply told them to stop abusing the staff, and what he got for that was attacked. It was captured on CCTV. I am told there was blood everywhere and the man was admitted to hospital with suspected broken bones. Police and an ambulance were called, and staff were visibly shaken. I am also told that only weeks earlier a staff member had a knife pulled on her. Staff say threatening and abusive behaviour is now occurring weekly.

Victoria Police are doing everything they can. Officers regularly walk through the supermarket and respond when called. The problem is not our police. The problem is a system that has tied their hands and created a culture in which repeat offenders believe there are no consequences. Under the youth justice framework overseen by this Victorian Labor government, police must consider a hierarchy of responses: first time, no action; second time, a verbal warning; third offence, a formal youth caution; and fourth, and only then, progressing to criminal action. What message does it send our offenders if they can offend repeatedly, be arrested and then high-five each other as they leave the police station? Yes, these young men were released.

Victorians deserve better. Under a Jess Wilson Liberal government we will establish a specialist court of criminal appeal to ensure serious offenders are met with serious consequences to reflect community expectations. We will strengthen bail laws and restore the simple message that if you do the crime, you will do the time. We will recruit 3000 police, fill the 1500 current vacancies and keep police stations open. Shockingly and worryingly, there is only one police station between Geelong and the South Australian border open 24 hours a day, and that is in Warrnambool – only one. Our police cannot protect communities without the laws, resources and support they need. After more than a decade, Victoria needs a fresh start, and under the Liberals that is exactly what we will deliver.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I remind members about titles.