New figures show crime has increased dramatically in Victoria since Jacinta Allan became Premier.
The Nationals’ Member for Northern Victoria Gaelle Broad said data from the independent Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) released this week showed total criminal offences had risen by 23 per cent since Ms Allan became Premier in September 2023.
In the 12 months to March 2026, 268,144 Victorians lodged a victim report with police – an average of 735 every day – at a time when Victoria Police is more than 1,500 officers short.
The data showed that in Bendigo in the 12 months to March 2026:
- Aggravated robbery has risen by 16 per cent;
- Family violence related serious assaults have risen by 46 per cent;
- Total serous assaults rose by 21 per cent;
- Prohibited weapons offences – including machete related crimes – rose by 46 per cent; and
- There were 4030 unsolved crimes in Greater Bendigo, representing 32 per cent of all crimes.
Overall crime rose in several local government areas across Northern Victoria.
These included: Alpine Shire (up 12%), Buloke (up 13%), Hepburn (up 5%), Macedon Ranges (up 2%), Moira (up 5%), Moorabool (up 24%), Mount Alexander (up 10%), Murrindindi (up 18%), Nillumbik (up 2%), Swan Hill (up 14%) and Towong (up 8%).
Ms Broad said she regularly heard from people who were victims of crime.
“Just recently there was a shocking attack in Bendigo where a 41-year-old man was allegedly attacked and stabbed by four teenagers in the street.
“Crime is a major issue and people do not feel safe in their own towns or even in their own homes.”
Ms Broad said the Nationals and Liberals had a comprehensive plan to end the crime crisis and keep communities safe.
If elected in November, a Liberal and Nationals government would:
- Recruit 3,000 additional Victoria Police officers.
- Reopening the more than 40 closed or reduced hours police stations.
- Hire 200 additional PSOs and return them to every metropolitan train station.
- Implement real Adult Crime, Adult Time laws – including for firebombings.
- Introduce a tough new one-strike bail rule for serious offences.
- Invest in early prevention and rehabilitation initiatives to keep at-risk youth out of a life of crime.
Ms Broad said Victoria deserved a government that backs police, puts victims first and takes crime seriously.
Media Contact: Linda Barrow 0484 303 764 linda.barrow@parliament.vic.gov.au
