Victorians are paying the price for yet another Labor failure, with the state government blowing $13 million on a machete bins program that could have instead paid for an extra 130 police officers in Victorian communities.
The Nationals’ Member for Lowan, Emma Kealy, said Labor had spent the eye-watering amount on 45 bins – including one in her electorate, in Horsham – while simultaneously cutting $50 million from the police budget and leaving 41 police stations operating on reduced hours.
She said Labor’s priorities could not be more out of touch.
“Regional communities do not have a machete problem. They have a law-and-order problem caused by insufficient police, under-resourced courts, and a government that fails to back our frontline officers,” she said.
“Instead of investing in frontline policing, improving court access, and properly managing offenders, this government is wasting millions on expensive gimmicks that will do little to help make our communities safer.”
Ms Kealy said charities used similar types of disposal bins across Victoria for a fraction of this cost.
“There is simply no justification for the $13-million price tag – it is an outrageous waste of taxpayers’ money,” she said.
“Regional Victorians deserve better. We deserve a government that backs our police, restores vital services, and takes community safety seriously.
“More than 1100 police positions remain unfilled, and since November last year 43 police stations have either shut their doors or reduced hours simply because there are not enough officers to keep them open.
“In regional Victoria, this means longer response times, fewer patrols, and communities left vulnerable while crime continues to rise.
“The Liberals and Nationals will back our police, fill frontline vacancies, restore services, and make sure dangerous offenders face justice.”