Questions without notice and ministers statements
Police resources
Mr DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan—Leader of the Opposition) (11:37): My question is to the Minister for Emergency Services. I refer to the state government modelling revealed in the Herald Sun today that shows Victoria Police faces a staffing crisis with an extra 1500 frontline officers needed, and I ask, therefore, the Minister for Emergency Services: given the critical role Victoria Police plays in emergency responses, including coordination, does the government have any assessments of the impact of this shortage on responses in emergencies, and if not, why not?
Ms SYMES (Northern Victoria—Leader of the Government, Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (11:38): I thank Mr Davis for his question. It is a bit of a stretch to try and put this in my portfolio responsibilities. It is a very specific question in relation to police resourcing, which is a matter for the Minister for Police. However, I would take the opportunity to thank Victoria Police for the efforts and assistance that they continually provide to the areas in my responsibility, those being emergency services. This government has a very strong record in investing in police, supporting their needs, and will continue to do so.
Mr DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan—Leader of the Opposition) (11:38): I notice that the minister did not want to address the important coordination role that police play in emergency services. I ask, therefore: surely, Minister, given the critical role, the central role, of police in our emergency response, isn’t it a fact that the critical shortage will leave our emergency response to fire, flood, terrorism and indeed pandemic deficient?
Ms SYMES (Northern Victoria—Leader of the Government, Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (11:39): As I expressed in my answer to your previous question, this government has a strong record in supporting police, adding police numbers and providing them with the resources that they require to do their job. Emergency Management Victoria are the body that is responsible for coordination, and they deal with all of our emergency services personnel and related agencies, including Victoria Police, and have done a fantastic job in responding to emergencies in recent times. I thank them for that ongoing work, and I expect that it will continue. None of us like to have emergencies face our state. We are all seeing what is happening in New South Wales, which is devastating, and of course I will go a little bit later to the support that we have been able as a state to provide to relieve the efforts in New South Wales. We have got Victoria Police, FRV, SES and CFA personnel going up to New South Wales to help, and that is not causing any concern to our ability to manage the risks that we have in our own state.