Danny O’Brien MP – Crime surge continues, regional Victorians suffer
The crime surge across Victoria continues, with a 20 per cent rise in incidents the state under the Allan Labor Government’s watch.
Criminal incidents have reached their highest recorded figures since the Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) began reporting in 2004-05.
Regional areas are being hit hard, with figures released today by CSA for the year ending March 30 revealing significant increases beyond the city.
- Ararat has the fifth highest criminal incident rate of all local government areas, up an alarming 25 per cent year-on-year.
- Latrobe has the third highest incident rate, up almost 11 per cent.
- Mildura is fourth with an increase of almost five per cent.
- The numbers for neighbouring municipalities Mitchell and Strathbogie, including Seymour and Euroa, continue on a worrying path with 26 per cent and 27 per cent rises respectively.
- Greater Shepparton suffered a rise of 20 per cent.
- Great Bendigo, Premier Jacinta Allan’s own backyard, is again up – this time almost 16 per cent.
Leader of The Nationals, Danny O’Brien, said Labor was losing the fight against crime, with numbers reaching record levels.
“Regional Victorians deserve to feel safe, but the numbers don’t lie – crime is out of control,” Mr O’Brien said.
“Labor has contributed to this crisis through huge numbers of police vacancies unfilled, closing police stations and the weakening of bail laws.
“The Liberals and Nationals in government will make a simple change: If you break bail, you face jail. We will restore accountability to Victoria’s bail system to stem the crime wave across regional Victoria.
“The ‘Break Bail, Face Jail’ policy will re-instate the consequences for repeat and youth offenders and put the safety of regional Victorians first.
“Labor can’t manage crime and regional Victorians are paying the price.”