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Melina Bath condemns premier for failing to secure police pay deal amid growing crime in Victoria

Melina Bath condemned the Premier's failure to secure a police pay deal, citing soaring crime rates, rising burglaries, and over 1,000 vacancies, jeopardizing community safety.

By news@gippsland - 27th November 2024 - Back to News

The Nationals' Member for Eastern Victoria, Melina Bath has condemned the Premier for her failure to reach a pay deal with Victoria Police as crime grows. Ms Bath said the Allan Labor government has left our hardworking officers undervalued at a time when their service has never been more critical with crime soaring in Victoria.

Ms Bath stated Labor's failure to resolve the police pay dispute shows disregard for officers, urging investment in solutions to address eastern Victoria's crime crisis

Crime crisis concerns

Ms Bath said, "There are well over 1,000 police officer vacancies statewide and residential burglaries have increased by 86 percent statewide in the past year. After ten years under Labor the frightening fact is aggravated residential burglaries have surged in eastern Victoria with increases as follows: Latrobe 300 per cent, Baw Baw 743 per cent, Bass Coast 143 per cent, Cardinia 272 per cent, South Gippsland 300 per cent, Wellington 155 percent and East Gippsland 33.3 percent."

"The Allan Labor government's apathy towards our police officers and fighting crime places Victorian families at risk. The location you are most likely to experience crime is tragically in your own home - the very place where you should feel safe. Our police are on the frontline of community protection, yet Labor is not offering them the respect and remuneration they deserve while they struggle with inadequate resourcing. The Allan Labor government's failures have left many fearing for their safety," she said.

Ms Bath said Victoria Police has an essential role in maintaining community safety, yet Labor's inability to close the wage agreement demonstrates a lack of regard for our hardworking officers. "It's time for Labor to stop ignoring the crime crisis impacting eastern Victorian residents and start investing in solutions to better protect our community and support Victoria Police. The Victorian Nationals are calling for an immediate resolution to the police pay dispute and greater prioritisation of public safety in the face of the worsening crime wave."

Pictures from Melina Bath MP Facebook page.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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• Life Saving Victoria urges vigilance over Easter holidays after record drowning deaths last year
  Life Saving Victoria warns Victorians to stay alert over Easter holidays, urging safety at beaches, pools, and waterways after last year’s record 13 drowning deaths nationwide.
• Tim Bull says Victoria can’t manage current parks, criticising government plans to further expand network
  Tim Bull says expanding Victoria’s national parks is irresponsible, arguing existing parks are neglected, understaffed and overrun by pests, weeds and feral animals, with reduced funding making effective land management increasingly impossible.
• Latrobe City urges the Victorian Minister for Roads and Road Safety urgent activation of Traralgon Bank Street and Princes Highway traffic lights
  Latrobe City Council urges Victorian Ministers to urgently activate the Bank Street–Princes Highway traffic lights in Traralgon, addressing safety concerns after completed works remain non-operational since 2018.
• Peri Urban Councils Victoria urges federal action on black and grey telecommunication spots to support regional sustainability and growth
  Peri Urban Councils Victoria urges federal action on black and grey telecommunication spots, highlighting risks to communities, emergency warnings, and the need for essential infrastructure recognition and targeted investment.
• Tim Bull slams government’s restrictive, confusing emergency levy exemptions failing CFA volunteers across Gippsland
  Tim Bull says the government’s flawed levy exemptions are too complex and restrictive, leaving CFA volunteers frustrated, excluded, and unsupported, and is urging the Minister to simplify the process.
• Nicholson Street mall public toilet temporarily closed amid vandalism, anti‑social behaviour and safety concerns
  The Nicholson Street Mall public toilet in Bairnsdale is temporarily closed due to repeated vandalism and anti-social behaviour, with Council working alongside traders, Victoria Police, and stakeholders on safety and revitalisation.
• Tim Bull urges Labor government to stop costly brumby culling amid Parks Victoria job and funding cuts
  Tim Bull urges Labor to halt costly brumby culling in East Gippsland, citing job losses, funding cuts, and greater threats from feral pigs, while advocating for more responsible taxpayer spending.
• Darren Chester accuses Victorian Labor of endangering Gippslanders by delaying Mallacoota-Genoa road upgrades
  Federal Member Darren Chester warns Victorian Labor’s inaction on Mallacoota-Genoa Road, despite $10 million funding, endangers Gippslanders, leaving critical safety upgrades delayed and road conditions increasingly unsafe.
• Latrobe Valley still waiting for Commonwealth Games Legacy Housing, four years after Labor promise
  Regional Victorians miss hosting Commonwealth Games athletes as promised Morwell legacy housing remains unbuilt. Nationals MPs Martin Cameron and Melina Bath criticize Allan Labor government’s broken promises amid worsening public housing crisis.
• Peri Urban Councils Victoria reflecting on 2025 year of growth, advocacy, and stronger Peri-Urban communities
  As 2025 ends, PUCV reflects on a productive year of growth, advocacy, and connectivity improvements, thanking member councils and supporters, while preparing an ambitious agenda for 2026 and beyond.
• Bass Coast Shire Council urges Victorian government, LSV to ensure lifeguard patrols continue safely, without cuts
  Bass Coast Shire Council urges Victorian government and LSV to guarantee lifeguard patrols, warning proposed funding hike strains budgets while beaches remain high-risk, with recent drownings highlighting urgent safety needs.
• Danny O’Brien urges AusNet to improve reliability amid Gippsland’s frequent power outages and rising costs
  Danny O’Brien has criticised ongoing Gippsland power outages, urging AusNet to improve reliability as households, farms and businesses face disruptions, rising costs, and increased reliance on expensive diesel generators.
• David Littleproud urges Australians to support local farmers amid rising imported food and supermarket pressures
  Nationals Leader David Littleproud urges Australians to buy local food as farmers face soaring costs, supermarket pressures, and rising imports, warning inaction threatens food security and the future of Australian agriculture.
• Danny O’Brien urges Labor government to disclose Gippsland South public housing vacancies amid growing local housing crisis
  Danny O’Brien has urged the Allan Labor government to disclose how many public housing homes in Gippsland South are vacant, highlighting community frustration and the urgent need for transparency.
• Labor government's VicGrid laws pass with crossbench backing amid Nationals' warning of property rights erosion
  The Allan government's VicGrid laws passed with crossbench support, sparking Nationals' criticism over lost property rights, silenced regional voices, and overreach. The Nationals vow repeal in 2026 to restore landholder protections.
• Tim Bull highlights East Gippsland patients facing excessive dental wait times amid ongoing public system mismanagement concerns
  East Gippsland patients face over 18-month waits for public dental care, with private dentists struggling under short voucher timelines and delayed government payments, highlighting systemic mismanagement, says Tim Bull.
• South Gippsland Shire Council extends footpath trading permits amid system update and upcoming fee changes
  South Gippsland Shire Council is updating its Footpath Trading Permit system. Current permits are automatically extended until December, with new fees applying next year. Businesses will receive updated information once finalised.
• Darren Chester condemned the Bill as unsupported, stripping veterans’ appeal rights and imposing a 20-year limit
  Coalition and crossbench Senators oppose the Bill after overwhelming veteran backlash, with Chester urging its abandonment, arguing it strips appeal rights and distracts from addressing key Royal Commission recommendations.