Beverley McArthur MP, Member for Western Victoria Region, Media Release, 24 August 2023
In case the Andrews Government hasn’t caused enough damage in country and regional Victoria, the neglect appears about to get worse.
Victoria Police wants to take officers from one-person police stations in 98 small towns and roster them into regional centres and cities to fill police shortages.
The rostering change is due to more than 800 police vacancies across the state.
In Western Victoria, the rostering relocation could impact towns such as Apsley, Avoca, Balmoral, Beeac, Birchip, Birregurra, Branxholme, Clunes, Dartmoor, Dunkeld, Dunolly, Gordon, Lake Bolac, Lavers Hill, Learmonth, Lexton, Linton, Skipton, Lismore, Merino, Meredith, Newstead, Penshurst, Natimuk, Rokewood, Smythesdale and Timboon.
Member for Western Victoria, Bev McArthur, said the move is alarming.
“This problem is caused by Police HQ – and Commissioner Shane Patton’s mandate that nearby 24-hour stations must be fully staffed for every shift,” Mrs McArthur said.
“While that’s all very good for those centres, it’s not so good for those outlying areas and small towns left exposed and without police protection.
“Mr Patton might be a very nice man in a difficult job, but he doesn’t get everything right.
“For example, he was involved in the decision that no charges would be laid over Labor’s Red Shirt disgrace.
“Perhaps this decision to leave small towns without a police presence is his next mistake in waiting,” Mrs McArthur said.
The Police Association Secretary, Wayne Gatt, is publicly quoted as being very concerned about the job losses and the slow capacity to replace them.
He said “We would not support changes that in our view would diminish a policing service to our regional communities”.
Mrs McArthur said every Victorian has a right to feel safe.
“One of the key roles of any Government is the safety and security of its people.
“It shouldn’t matter where they live. Safety should be available to everyone.
“It is not as if these small regions and towns are without trouble of their own.
“Take Gordon for example. It sits in the Moorabool Shire just outside Ballarat. In the year ending March 2023, that region experienced 1,566 criminal incidents, 2,185 recorded offences, and 532 family incidents.
“Crime happens everywhere and Gordon would be represented in those statistics.
“Or perhaps Dunkeld in the Southern Grampians Shire. In the year ending March 2023, the region registered 747 criminal incidents with 1,194 offences recorded and 290 reported family incidents.
“Again, to assume all of these police-related matters only happened in the bigger towns such as Hamilton, would be wrong.
“The moral to the story is that country people have had enough of playing second-best to bigger towns and city-based agendas. They pay taxes, they work hard and their rights to police protection and support are equal.
“Any diminution of country standards must be avoided.
“Leave single-officer police stations alone. They do an incredible and important job for their communities,” Mrs McArthur said.
