News

Police | September 27, 2018

Crime rates continue to rise in Lowan

The Nationals Member for Lowan, Emma Kealy MP says crime rates have increased by up 58.34 per cent in some local government areas in Lowan since Labor was elected in 2014.

New figures released by the Victorian Crime Statistics Agency this month show 1509 offences were recorded in the Southern Grampians Shire Council in the year to June 2018 – an increase of 58.34 per cent since Daniel Andrews took office four years ago.

The number of offences has also continued to rise sharply in the Hindmarsh and Yarriambiack Shire Councils with rises of 47.37 per cent and 47.04 per cent respectively.

Statewide figures show since Daniel Andrews was elected common assaults are up 38 per cent, rape is up 20.82 per cent, sexual offences against children are up 56.45 per cent, aggravated robbery is up 24.12 per cent, non-aggravated robbery is up 85.29 per cent and aggravated burglary is up 43.05 per cent.

At the same time, figures supplied by The Police Association show there are now 190 fewer frontline police than there were in 2013.

“Victoria has become the crime capital of Australia under Daniel Andrews,” Ms Kealy said.

“We are in the grips of a law and order crisis, but the Premier for Melbourne has watered down bail laws, weakened sentencing and failed to equip our regional police with adequate resources to protect our streets.

“Our hardworking local police do a fantastic job with the resources at hand, but Labor’s soft touch approach and cuts to the number of frontline police is making their job so much harder.

“That is why I have announced that The Nationals in Government will fund a rebuild of the Coleraine Police Station and kickstart plans for a new police station and courthouse precinct at Hamilton.

“Lowan residents have a clear choice in November - more of the same soft touch approach from Daniel Andrews and Labor or the Liberal Nationals’ plan including:

• more frontline police
• reopening the police stations Daniel Andrews closed
• mandatory sentencing for repeat violent offenders
• a public sex offenders register for the ‘worst of the worst’
• changes to concurrent sentences
• tougher conditions for bail; and
• a return to the principal that parole is a privilege, not a right.

“Only the Liberal Nationals will make Victoria safe again,” she said.