Thursday, 14 August 2025

Eastern Victoria Region

Renee HEATH (Eastern Victoria) (12:45): (1746) My question is for the Minister for Police. There is ongoing concern from residents and business owners in Emerald regarding the lack of adequate police presence. Emerald has a police station that came at significant cost to the taxpayer, yet despite this investment it remains understaffed or unstaffed through many hours. Last month three local businesses – Hush Beauty and Skin, Bill’s Fish ’N’ Chips and the Laughing Fox – were broken into three nights in a row. These family-run businesses employing locals are now left to deal with smashed windows, lost business and distressed staff. Business owners were shaken, one noting it was their second break-in in six months. The owner of Hush Beauty and Skin, Jessica, said, ‘It looked like a sledgehammer had been taken to parts of the store.’ Minister, will you commit to providing 24-hour staffing at the police station in Emerald so that the community has visible and responsible policing at all times?