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Labor government slammed as Gippsland crime soars, Danny O'Brien warns communities are failed by weak laws

Danny O'Brien says Gippsland crime is surging under Labor, with major increases across all councils. He warns weakened laws, police shortages, and neglect leave communities unsafe, demanding stronger action and real consequences.

By news@gippsland - 25th September 2025 - Back to News

The Allan Labor Government has allowed crime to surge across Gippsland, with shocking new figures showing increases in every local government area across the region. The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O'Brien said the latest data from the Crime Statistics Agency reveals a dramatic spike in many regional towns including Foster, where recorded offences soared by 127 per cent in just 12 months.

Danny O'Brien says Labor's soft-on-crime approach fails Gippsland, with crime soaring, police understaffed, bail laws weakened, and communities increasingly unsafe across the region

Rising crime rates

Mr O'Brien said, "Alarmingly, Sale alone saw more than 3,000 offences recorded in the 12 months prior to June 2025. That's more than one offence for every five people in the town of 14,296, according to the 2021 Census."

Mr O'Brien said the figures highlight how communities of all sizes are being failed by Labor's soft-on-crime approach. "When a small town like Foster sees crime more than double in just 12 months, and Sale records over 3,000 incidents, locals are right to be deeply concerned. These figures show crime is rising across the entire region and the Allan Labor Government has failed to act."

"Our police are doing everything they can, but with over 1,100 police vacancies statewide, 900 more off on leave and WorkCover, weakened bail laws, and country stations left closed or understaffed, Labor has left them to fight a losing battle," Mr O'Brien said.

Crime surge continues

Across Gippsland, every local government area saw crime rise over the past year. Offences increased by 20.6 per cent in Baw Baw, 11.8 per cent in Latrobe City, 10 per cent in Bass Coast, 3.5 per cent in South Gippsland, 15.4 per cent in Wellington, and 7 per cent in East Gippsland, highlighting a region-wide surge in criminal activity.

Mr O'Brien said only The Nationals in government have a clear plan to restore law and order across Victoria:

• Break Bail, Face Jail - real consequences for repeat and youth offenders
• Jack's Law - new powers and technology for police and PSOs to get knives off the streets
• Youth diversion programs - to stop young people heading down the path of crime

"After nearly a decade of Labor's soft-on-crime approach, the results are clear - more crime, more victims, less safety. Only a fresh start and a change of government will deliver the strong action Gippslanders deserve," Mr O'Brien said.

Pictures from Danny O'Brien MP Instagram page.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com