Tuesday, 31 March 2026

 David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (13:50): Today I want to draw the chamber’s attention to the violence that we are seeing in Ashwood and a particular case at an Ashwood Drive home. In recent days a husband and wife were forced to barricade themselves in their bedroom while a gang of masked robbers ransacked their Ashwood home. It was 1:30 am. He was asleep. She was scrolling on her phone when she heard something, and the man, who wishes to remain anonymous out of fear of reprisal, was woken. They could hear them moving through the house. People are scared, people are frightened. This is the second time it has happened to this family – the second home invasion in a relatively short period of time. This is suburban Ashwood.

People have had enough. They are frightened. The government has withdrawn police services and closed police stations. The Ashburton police station closed in recent years under this government. The crime rate has gone up in Boroondara. The crime rate has gone up in Monash. The number of police has fallen in the City of Boroondara. After several minutes of opening cupboards and ransacking the house, the thieves snatched two sets of car keys. The CCTV captured the four youths speeding away in the couple’s white Audi. The police said to the couple, ‘There’s nothing we can do.’ (Time expired)