The Andrews Labor Government isn’t providing police with the resources they need to tackle crime in the Rural City of Swan Hill local government area.
Figures from the Crime Statistics Agency show a 19.57 per cent increase in the number of crimes since Daniel Andrews was elected in 2014, from 2,197 to 2,627.
Leader of The Nationals and Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh said local police went above and beyond to keep our communities safe, but that Labor’s city-centric agenda was seeing any extra resources focused in Melbourne.
“Daniel Andrews promised to ‘deliver for all Victorians’, but that doesn’t apply if you live in Regional Victoria,” Mr Walsh said.
“Our local police must be recognised for the critical work they do keeping our communities safe, but under Labor crime in Swan Hill has risen and there hasn’t been an increase in resourcing to meet the policing needs of our communities.
“There’s more to Victoria than just Melbourne and without an urgent increase to police resources in the Rural City of Swan Hill local government area crime will only continue to spiral out of control.”
Mr Walsh called for action to improve safety – at home and on the roads.
A concerning rise in dangerous driving offences in Victoria – from 424 in December 2014 up to 1255 by March 2019 – at a time when 151 people have been killed on the roads this year, proved the need for stronger measures to improve road safety.
“Despite Victoria running at the worst road toll in over a decade, Daniel Andrews has cut roadside breath testing by 400,000 tests a year and ripped $2.9 billion from the Transport Accident Commission,” Mr Walsh said.
“Tragically, there are no second chances when it comes to road safety and for every week the government fails to take action more lives will be placed at risk.”
The Liberal Nationals have announced a three-point plan to improve road safety:
- 1,000 extra drug tests every week,
- Increase penalties for drug driving in line with drink driving, and;
- Focus speed camera site selection on reducing road trauma, not raising revenue.
“With cases of dangerous driving increasing rapidly under the Andrews Labor Government, these changes must be adopted as a matter of urgency,” Mr Walsh said.