April 6, 2010
• Largest single term increase in the history of Victoria
• National recruitment drive to commence within weeks of new government
The Latrobe Valley community will benefit from more police under a Victorian Coalition Government plan to revolutionise policing and public safety.
The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester welcomed his State Parliamentary colleagues’ promise to boost frontline police by 1600 in their first term of government.
Mr Chester said the $344 million plan will end chronic police shortages and restore public safety.
“The plan will be partially funded by reducing the Labor Government’s spending on advertising,” Mr Chester said.
“$140 million over the next four years will be cut from the advertising budget to fund frontline police. The rest will be funded through budget surplus.”
Mr Chester recently enlisted the support of The Nationals Federal Leader Warren Truss to highlight the growing issue of community safety and seek a national approach to make streets safer.
Mr Chester said community safety was a concern at local pubs and nightclubs and also created much stress for parents with children living in Melbourne, who were worried about their childrens’ safety.
“This unprecedented investment in policing will go a long way toward making our streets safe again,” Mr Chester said.
The Nationals State Member for Morwell Russell Northe said Victoria has the fewest frontline police per capita and spent less on police resourcing per capita than any other state in Australia.
He said the Coalition would provide $344 million over four years to fund an additional 1,600 police, plus an additional $65 million 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,” Mr Northe said.
OTHER COALITION LAW AND ORDER POLICIES
• A safer train network – officers at every station
• Abolishing suspended sentences
• Tough new anti-hoon laws – crushing cars of offenders
• Banning violent drunks from licensed premises
• Banning the sale of knives to minors
• Shake up of liquor licence laws
• Strengthening Neighbourhood Watch
• A new anti-corruption watchdog
• Ending home detention
• Outlawing criminal bikie gangs