Friday 20th October 2017
In State Parliament this week Leader of the Nationals and Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh has called out the Melbourne Labor Government for its failure to deliver on key recommendations from the Royal Commission into Family Violence.
Mr Walsh said that on the 2nd May 2016 the Attorney General Martin Pakula came to Echuca in a flurry of media activity to announce that the Labor government would provide $1.1 million to make the Echuca Court House safer.
Mr Pakula said the refurbishment would deliver on key recommendations of the Royal Commission into Family Violence which included separate court access safe waiting rooms and safe interview rooms new court security officers to provide roving patrols and escort services for vulnerable people and a new walk-through metal detector.
“It is completely unacceptable that 18 months has passed and not one safety measure has been put into place at the Echuca Court House” Mr Walsh said.
“In the meantime family violence crime has continued to spiral in Campaspe Shire and violent outbursts at or in the vicinity of the court house continue to occur.
“Once again the Melbourne Labor Government has shown its contempt for country Victoria by failing to protect its most vulnerable.
“Daniel Andrews is soft on crime and harsh on its victims.
“I challenge the Attorney General to honour his obligations under the Royal Commission into Family Violence and to immediately take steps to deliver on his promise made to the people of Echuca on 2nd May 2016.”