News

Emergency Services | June 25, 2019

More police resources needed to tackle crime in Horsham, Hindmarsh and Yarriambiack LGAs

The Nationals Member for Lowan Emma Kealy says the Andrews Labor Government isn’t providing police with the resources they need to tackle crime in the Horsham Rural City Council and Hindmarsh and Yarriambiack Shire Councils.

Figures from the Crime Statistics Agency show a 20.13 per cent increase in the number of crimes in the Horsham Rural City Council since Daniel Andrews was elected, rising from 2379 total offences in December 2014 to 2858 in March 2019.

The Hindmarsh and Yarriambiack Shire Councils reported 50.88 per cent and 18.87 per cent increases respectively for the same period.

“Our local police go above and beyond to keep our communities safe but Labor’s city-centric agenda is seeing any extra resources focused in Melbourne,” Ms Kealy said.

“Our local police must be recognised for the critical work they do keeping our communities safe, but under Labor there has been an alarming increase in crime in these local government areas with no increase in resourcing to meet the policing needs of our community.

“There’s more to Victoria than just Melbourne and without an urgent increase to police resources crime will only continue to spiral out of control in regional Victoria.”

Ms Kealy called for action to improve safety – at home and on the roads.

A concerning rise in dangerous driving offences in Victoria – from 424 in December 2014 up to 1255 by March 2019 – at a time when 151 people have been killed on the roads this year, proved the need for stronger measures to improve road safety.

“Despite Victoria running at the worst road toll in over a decade, Daniel Andrews has cut roadside breath testing by 400,000 tests a year and ripped $2.9 billion from the Transport Accident Commission,” Ms Kealy said.

“Tragically, there are no second chances when it comes to road safety and for every week the government fails to take action more lives will be placed at risk.”

The Liberal Nationals have announced a three-point plan to improve road safety:

• 1,000 extra drug tests every week,
• Increase penalties for drug driving in line with drink driving, and;
• Focus speed camera site selection on reducing road trauma, not raising revenue.

“With cases of dangerous driving increasing rapidly under the Andrews Labor Government, these changes must be adopted as a matter of urgency,” Ms Kealy said.