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Nationals and Liberals will restore law and order with a 'Break Bail, Face Jail' policy statewide, says Danny O'Brien

Crime is surging across Gippsland, with alarming increases in offences and family violence. Danny O'Brien says Labor's weakened bail laws and police shortages fuel this worsening crisis.

By news@gippsland - 23rd June 2025 - Back to News

Crime is spiralling out of control across Gippsland as the Allan Labor government fails to keep our country towns safe. The latest figures from the Crime Statistics Agency paint a grim picture. In the 12 months to March 2025, criminal incidents surged by 18.3 percent in Wellington Shire, 11.2 percent in South Gippsland, and 4.2 percent in Latrobe City.

Family violence reports are rising alarmingly in Gippsland. Danny O'Brien says tougher bail laws will help restore safety regionally

Crime crisis escalates

The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O'Brien, said the figures confirm what locals already know - crime is getting worse by the day, and the Allan Labor government is sitting on its hands. "These are not just small increases - this is a full-blown crime crisis. Our region is being hit hard, and Labor has contributed to this crisis through huge numbers of unfilled police vacancies, closing and understaffing of police stations, and weakening of bail laws."

Mr O'Brien said while local police are doing an outstanding job under pressure, they are fighting a losing battle without proper support. "I want to commend our local police - they are working incredibly hard and continue to make arrests, but the reality is they're up against a government that has abandoned them. Offenders know they can get away with it - because after Labor weakened bail, there are no real consequences."

Equally concerning is the alarming rise in family violence reports - up 13.6 percent in Wellington, 14 percent in South Gippsland, and 9.4 percent in Latrobe. "These statistics are devastating and reflect a deeply disturbing trend that simply cannot be allowed to continue unchecked," said Mr O'Brien.

Tougher regional safety

Mr O'Brien said The Nationals and Liberals have a clear plan to restore law and order across regional Victoria. "The Nationals and Liberals in government will make a simple change: If you break bail, you face jail. We will restore accountability to Victoria's bail system to stem the crime wave that is hurting our country towns. The 'Break Bail, Face Jail' policy will reinstate the consequences for repeat and youth offenders and put the safety of regional Victorians first."

Mr O'Brien said Labor's soft-on-crime agenda has allowed the situation to spiral out of control. "For nearly a decade, Labor has overseen rising crime, a weakened justice system, and declining police resources - there are currently 1100 unfilled police vacancies. It is clear that Labor can't manage crime and country towns like those in Gippsland South are paying the price."

Pictures from Danny O'Brien MP Instagram page.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com