Wednesday, 30 October 2019

Gippsland South electorate police numbers

Mr D O’BRIEN: It is time the Andrews Labor government got serious about police numbers in South Gippsland. I recently raised concerns that the usual deployment of three officers in Mirboo North has been reduced to zero, with the station there generally closed and little visible police presence. Since raising it publicly I have had concerns raised from other communities, including Meeniyan, Leongatha and Korumburra, about police presence. Our local police do a good job but they are hamstrung by a lack of support from the Andrews Labor government, with a lack of replacements for officers on leave or secondment leading to staffing shortfalls. The minister says staffing decisions are operational matters. Well, it did not seem beyond her to direct police where to put resources when she pledged new numbers for the Bellarine in the last Parliament. The crime rate in South Gippsland shire has risen 32 per cent since Labor was elected, and it is time our stations were properly manned.