Wednesday, 19 June 2024

 Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) (18:15): (975) My adjournment is for the Minister for Police, and it concerns an increasingly dangerous and sensitive issue my constituents face at the Edgars Road shops in Thomastown. I seek the action of the minister to intervene and assist my community with a peaceful way forward. The Edgars Road shops in Thomastown are home to some great businesses that serve locals, like the Supa IGA, a chemist, a fish and chips shop and a bakery. Unfortunately, for the last six months the centre has been plagued by antisocial behaviour. Recently I joined the Shadow Minister for Police Brad Battin there to discuss the matter with businesses and locals.

In March 2024 a homeless man decided to set up camp at the centre. At this stage it was assumed that he was harmless. Centre management and businesses wanted to support him and assumed that government or not-for-profit services might be able to assist him. A week or so later he became violent. Police removed him from the site and issued a ban notice. They thought that was the end of it. On 8 April he came back. An IGA employee was assaulted. The employee did not want to make a statement to police out of fear of retribution, so there was nothing they could do. A week later one of my constituents, Paul, in his 70s, was assaulted by the man while he was coming out of the bakery. He reported it to police, and it was not responded to for three weeks. Between March and April there were five separate calls to 000 regarding incidents involving the man, including one where he was removed from the street and eventually came back seeking retribution. The matter was referred to council to meet with him and refer to an outreach service. Whittlesea council confirmed that they did attend but did nothing because it is private property, and now that he has become violent they will not be attending again. In late April six drug-affected men joined the man and were intimidating customers.

At the start of May both an IGA employee and a bakery employee were assaulted by the man. Police were again contacted, but there was nothing they could do and it was referred to council. There was also a woman who visited the man, who was then running around the centre naked yelling at customers and employees. The man trashed the fish and chips shop when the owner refused to serve him. Police did nothing. There was conflicting advice from no less than eight officers, including senior police, about how to deal with the matter, all very clear that he would get bail and be back on the street the same day.

The shopping strip is right next to St Clare’s primary school. Trade was always very good after school on weekdays. Unfortunately, since the man has been camped there businesses have lost all trade as children and parents have been quite rightly told to avoid the area. Business owners are at their wits’ end and are talking about shutting up shop, which would be a terrible outcome for our community. I am seeking the action of the minister to please intervene and get a resolution for my constituents in Thomastown.