A forum involving local victims of crime, senior police and National Party MPs has examined Bendigo’s skyrocketing crime rates.
The Nationals’ Member for Northern Victoria Gaelle Broad hosted the forum, which included Leader of The Nationals Danny O’Brien, The Nationals’ Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester and The Nationals’ candidate for Bendigo Andrew Lethlean.
Ms Broad said the forum grew out of community anger and prompted some heartfelt discussion from victims who were able to tell their stories directly to senior police and to legislators.
“They had some horrifying stories. These events have had long-lasting traumatic impacts on the victims and their families,” Ms Broad said.
“Victims were particularly upset that offenders had been given bail and continued to reoffend.”
The Leader of The Nationals Danny O’Brien said the State Government’s new bail laws did not go far enough.
“The Police are doing a great job, but they are running a ‘catch and release program’. These laws need to go a step further, so people understand the consequences of their actions,” Mr O’Brien said.
The forum followed an extraordinary increase in crime in Bendigo in recent months.
“Last week’s firebombing of a tobacco shop in Epsom was the latest in a series of distressing incidents, which included the horrific bashing of a security guard at the Marketplace shopping centre and reported bashings of young people in the centre of the city,” Ms Broad said.
“The latest figures from the Crime Statistics Agency show a 19.2 per cent rise in crime in Greater Bendigo, with stealing from retail stores, aggravated burglary and motor vehicle thefts all rising dramatically.
“Labor has been too slow to act on crime. The recent move to ban machetes and reform bail laws came long after the Nationals and Liberals called for action and followed community protests and there are still around 1000 vacancies in Victoria Police.”
Ms Broad recently asked a question in Parliament regarding Bendigo crime rates.
“The Minister for Police has assured me the Government will give police ‘the resources and tools they need to keep our community safe’. I do hope Labor will come good on this promise.
“Labor can’t manage money and is soft on crime and the people of Bendigo are paying the price.”
Question 1354 – Greater Bendigo crime prevention (Adjournment Matters) – Parliament of Victoria
Media Contact: Linda Barrow 0484 303 764 linda.barrow@parliament.vic.gov.au
