Tuesday, 4 February 2025

 Renee HEATH (Eastern Victoria) (14:15): (1330) My question is for the Minister for Community Safety. Minister, in the early hours of 20 January this year at least seven businesses in Lakeside Boulevard were vandalised. The following day I met with some of the shop owners – Savan from Smokin’ Joe’s and Kong from Lakeside Fish & Chips – to hear about their concerns and the damage that was done along that strip. Smokin’ Joe’s noted that CCTV footage captured an individual among a group of teens who was walking along kicking in the doors and shattering the windows of their shops. This is the second attack like this in just six months. It is highlighting terrible behaviour, and it is costing businesses greatly at a time when businesses are suffering. They are being taxed through the nose, there are rising taxes and charges and now they have to deal with the cost of vandalism. So my question is: what immediate actions will you take to address this ongoing crime spree and better support small businesses?