Media Releases

The Swan Hill Electorate will benefit from more police under a Victorian Coalition Government plan to revolutionise policing and public safety by boosting frontline police by 1,600 in the first term of government, Nationals Member for Swan Hill, Peter Walsh, announced today.
Mr Walsh said the $344 million “Making Our Streets Safe Again” plan would end chronic police shortages and restore public safety.
“More police are needed across regional Victoria to fill staff shortages that have arisen due to Brumby government inaction over the past decade,” he said.
“This unprecedented investment in policing will see a dramatic increase in frontline police across Victoria, and it will go a long way in helping our community achieve a reduction in crime.
“The Swan Hill electorate is fortunate to have a dedicated and community minded police force that does a fantastic job under very difficult circumstances, but we do not have the number of frontline officers needed to properly protect communities against crime.
“It is a basic responsibility of government to protect its citizens. John Brumby has failed this test. Law and order has not been a priority of the Brumby Government, but it will be a priority of a Victorian Liberal Nationals Government. Victorians have a right to expect to be protected.
“Victoria has the fewest frontline police per capita and spends less on police resourcing per capita than any other state in Australia.”
Mr Walsh said the Coalition would provide $344 million over four years to fund an additional 1,600 police, plus an additional $65 million capital allocation for operational equipment. The package includes $8 million for expanded training facilities and staff at the Police Academy.
“This announcement is part of an integrated plan to stop and reverse the culture of violence and growing levels of crime in Victoria. A significant increase in frontline police is crucial to all of these initiatives,” he said.
“Victoria Police have some of the best police officers in the nation but Victoria does not have the number of frontline officers needed to properly protect communities against record levels of violent crime.
“The Liberals and Nationals are listening to Victorian communities and will deliver the police required to make sure families can feel safe again on the streets, on public transport and in their own homes.
“This announcement is part of an integrated plan to stop and reverse the culture of violence and growing levels of crime in Victoria. A significant increase in frontline police is crucial to all of these initiatives,” Mr Walsh said.

Member for Swan Hill, Peter Walsh, yesterday attacked the Brumby Government in Parliament over the lack of available police officers in rural Victoria.

“The issue of community safety and concerns about a lack of police services are not limited to Melbourne and large regional cities,” Mr Walsh said.

“Pyramid Hill is a one-man police station which not had an officer since late last year and the community is still unaware of when that position will be filled,” he said.

“A recent incident in the community highlighted the residents concerns about a lack of a police presence in the town.

“An unknown, intoxicated and possibly drug affected man entered the Pyramid Hotel. When he was refused service and asked to leave he went on a rampage abusing staff and patrons in the dining room of the hotel.

“In the process he smashed a glass door and showered diners and their families with glass.

“The hotel management, fearing for the safety of patrons and staff rang the emergency 000 number only to be informed that there were no police available in the area to assist.

“As a result, for the rest of the night the hotel management were left fearing the return of the individual and the possibility of a number of potentially disastrous scenarios if that was to happen.

“Through no fault of his own, and despite operating a very well managed and family orientated establishment in a small community and now paying an exorbitant liquor licensing fee so that these sorts of issues can be addressed, this publican and the community of Pyramid Hill have been left to ‘hang out to dry’ due to a lack of adequate police numbers in the region.

“Instead of hiding behind a veneer of political spin it is time the Brumby Government addressed the issues of police staffing in country Victoria and ensured that there are enough police to meet the emergency needs of country residents,” Mr Walsh said.

The Nationals Member for Swan Hill Peter Walsh has welcomed a Victorian Liberal National Coalition policy to crack down on violent crime and assault.

“Coalition Leader Ted Baillieu announced today that a Coalition Government would scrap suspended sentences and home detention,” Mr Walsh said.

“Crime rates in Victoria have skyrocketed under the Brumby Government.

“The latest official crime statistics show that over the past year alone drug offences have risen by 18 per cent in the Swan Hill Police Service Area,” he said

“Clearly the Brumby Government is out of touch with the needs and expectation of Victorians.

“Labor has gone soft on crime and Victorians are paying the price.”

Mr Walsh said across Victoria between 6000 and 7000 suspended sentences were handed out each year.

“The statistics show the Brumby Government’s soft approach towards crime is not working,” he said.

“About 27.5 per cent of the suspended sentences handed out in Victoria are breached.

“Appallingly, in 37.2 per cent of cases where those orders were breached, offenders were released back into the community without serving any real jail time.

“The Brumby Government’s home detention policy has also failed. Since 2004, 425 prisoners have been released into home detention, many before they have served even a minimum sentence.

“People convicted of armed robbery, aggravated burglary or intentionally and recklessly causing injury are eligible for home detention under Labor’s system.

“It is very difficult for residents in Victoria to have faith in a justice system that is failing to hand out sentences to fit the crimes being committed.

 “The Coalition’s policy will deliver long overdue legislative reform to address crime rates in the Swan Hill electorate and restore honesty to sentencing.”