Wednesday, 23 September 2026

 Paul EDBROOKE (Frankston – Minister for Police, Minister for Crime Prevention, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (14:21): Keeping Victorians safe is my number one priority, and if last week has proven anything it is that only Labor has a real plan to keep Victorians safe. Labor has already delivered over 3500 additional police officers, and only Labor has a plan to get Victoria Police back to 17,000 officers. Applications for the police academy are at the highest level in five years, but moving or losing hours to the commute is a real barrier for Victorians. The answer to this is not more legal studies classes. It is a permanent academy in the west, and only Labor will build it. Guess what happened on the day we announced it: those opposite said it was not necessary. According to them, it is not necessary to make it easier and cheaper for Victorians who live in the west to join Victoria Police. They think it is not necessary for a few recruits to train closer to home, closer to their families and closer to the communities that they want to represent. I reckon that is rubbish, and I think the people on this side of the house believe it is rubbish too. I say the Liberals are wrong.

Getting back to a full force means focusing on more than just recruitment. We must also focus on supporting those officers we already have. Police officers see things most Victorians should never have to see, and that can take its toll. They cannot be expected to carry on and push their own needs to the side. That is why programs like BlueHub exist, and it is why they should be made permanent. I was proud to stand alongside the Premier last week to announce that Labor and only Labor will not only expand and support the BlueHub system but make it permanent. It was downright heartless when the Liberals cut the police band. Now they have failed to back BlueHub and they have failed to back Victoria Police. Victorians know that under a One Nation–Liberal coalition everything is on the chopping block because Victorians know they will get less under Jess.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Minister for Police can leave the chamber for half an hour.

Minister for Police withdrew from chamber.

The SPEAKER: I remind members that there is a degree of respect expected in the chamber. It is not appropriate to call members by names other than their correct title.