Wednesday, 4 March 2026

 Renee HEATH (Eastern Victoria) (12:53): My question is for the minister for police and emergency services. Recently a single, full-time-working mother from Pakenham told me that she is extremely distressed about her daughter’s safety now that the government is removing PSOs from certain train stations. Her daughter is in year 8 and must use the train to travel home in the evenings after her learning support sessions. Although these changes were announced last November, this government is keeping the list of which stations are going to lose protection secret until April. Her local train station is Cardinia Road station, which has become a hotspot for crime. There have been intimidations, car break-ins and violent assaults occurring there. Crime in Pakenham is certainly on the rise, and something needs to be done about it. This mother is one of many who has to choose between learning support for her kids and her children being safe. My question is: will Cardinia Road station be one of the ones left compromised by a loss of PSOs?