Victoria Minister Says More Police Needed In Country Communities
After admitting they were unable to deliver on their promise of extra police numbers to specific areas yesterday, the Opposition is now trying to mislead country communities by falsely pledging additional police to specific communities, Acting Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Tony Robinson, said.
Mr Baillieu was yesterday forced to admit on Melbourne radio that he couldn’t deliver on his promise to deliver extra police to country Victorians as police deployment was ultimately “a matter for the Chief Commissioner.”
And his police spokesman, the Nationals’ Peter Ryan was forced to admit the National Party had rolled over for its Liberal masters again by revealing the Opposition would focus on Melbourne’s needs before regional Victoria.
Mr Ryan was also forced to admit that the Opposition would have no power to determine where police go and that could only be done by force command and the Chief Commissioner.
“Here we go again – the National Party rolls over for its Liberal masters and sells out country communities again,” Mr Robinson said.
“My message for country communities is that the National Party has not changed one bit since the Kennett days. They will say anything for a vote and even make promises they know they will never keep.
“And the National Party continues to sell out country communities and obey orders from their Liberal masters.”
Today Opposition MPs have tried to mislead country newspapers and country communities by making false claims that they will determine and deliver certain numbers of extra police to certain towns, despite their leaders admitting they can’t actually do it.
Benambra MP Bill Tilley – the Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Police and Emergency Services – said he would deliver 14 additional police to Wodonga, but at the same time admitted deployment decisions rest with the Chief Commissioner.
“Those sort of specific numbers are contingent on the organisation itself.” – Bill Tilley MP, Border Mail 7 April, 2010.
Shepparton MP Jeanette Powell, who has previously championed for 50 more police for Shepparton, has now moved away from those calls in another indication there is no belief within the Coalition that they can deliver their pledge.
Contacted yesterday, Nationals Leader Peter Ryan and Mrs (Jeanette) Powell could not commit to 50 new police for the Greater Shepparton police district. – Shepparton News 7 April, 2010.
Mr Robinson said the Opposition should stop treating country communities with contempt and called on Mr Baillieu to show some spine and tell his backbenchers to not make false promises.
“The Opposition has been caught out not telling the truth to country communities,” he said.
“The Opposition cannot deliver the additional police it is promising to country communities. My message to country communities is to beware of Nationals bearing gifts.
“This is the beginning of the rot – and country Victorians remember the Liberal and National parties’ form only too well.
“When it comes to police numbers, the Liberal and National parties never deliver what they promise.
“The last time they were in Government, with Ted Baillieu at the helm as party president, the Liberal and National parties promised 1000 police and actually cut 800 from the force.
“Add to this the poor economics behind this pledge and in less than a day this proposal has unravelled into little more than a headline grabbing, rubbery lie – another effort to con Victorians.”
Topics: 2010, Australia, Benambra, Chief Commissioner, country communities, country Victorians, emergency services, Governance, government, Liberals, Melbourne, monitor, MP Bill Tilley, MP Jeanette Powell, MPs, Mr Baillieu, Mr Ryan, National Party, Nationals Leader Peter Ryan, news, opposition, police, regional Victoria, safety, security, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Police and Emergency Services, Shepparton, Tony Robinson, Victoria, Wodonga
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