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Protect staffing at single officer stations in Gippsland urged by Danny O'Brien

Mr. O'Brien emphasises the importance of one-officer stations for community safety in regional towns highlighting concerns about rising crime rates and understaffed police vacancies.

By news@gippsland - 25th August 2023 - Back to News

The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O'Brien has called on the state government to intervene to ensure that single officer stations across the state and in Gippsland are not stripped of staff. Mr O'Brien was responding to reports that indicate a plan by police command to change enterprise bargaining arrangements to allow single officer station staff to be used to prop up and fill vacant shifts in larger stations.

Mr O'Brien calls on the Andrews government to adequately resource Victoria Police to ensure rural and regional areas are appropriately covered

Critical role of one-officer station

Mr O'Brien said, "Our small one-officer stations are and remain a critical part of policing and community safety in our smaller regional towns. Of course, those officers already work with, and are supported by, nearby towns and bigger stations, but to suggest they be on some sort of permanent secondment would be to the detriment of our smaller towns."

Mr O'Brien said one-officer stations in the Gippsland South electorate at Loch Sport, Toora, Meeniyan and Loch play an important part in community safety in those communities. "I have had significant concern raised with me in recent months about an increase in crime and we have seen the crime rate in South Gippsland alone rise by 59.4 percent since the Labor government came to office."

Rural police resources

Mr O'Brien added, "We continue to need a visible police presence in these communities and I will not support a diminution of police and one officer stations," he sai.Mr O'Brien said the Andrews government needed to properly resource Victoria Police to ensure our rural and regional areas are appropriately covered.

"We heard evidence at the budget hearings in June that there are some 800 vacancies unfilled throughout Victoria Police and it is the responsibility of the Andrews government to urgently address these shortages," he said.

Pictures from Victoria Police Facebook page.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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• Wellington Shire Council backs West Sale Airport for proposed Gippsland Police Academy training campus
  Wellington Shire Council will advocate for a Gippsland Police Academy at West Sale Airport, citing existing infrastructure, the former TAFE campus, expansion capacity and potential regional jobs, investment and training opportunities.
• Mobile Service Centres bringing government support across South Gippsland communities an August and September
  Australian government Mobile Service Centres will visit 12 South Gippsland communities, offering Medicare, Centrelink, myGov and Veterans’ Affairs assistance, with accessible facilities and Wi-Fi.
• Traralgon Tyers interconnect begins, strengthening water supply reliability and resilience across four Gippsland towns for future regional growth
  Gippsland Water has begun construction on a 4.5-kilometre pipeline linking four towns to Traralgon’s water network, improving reliability, resilience, efficiency and capacity for future regional growth.
• Darren Chester visits Aussie Broadband’s Traralgon office, highlighting reliable telecommunications for Gippsland’s regional communities and businesses
  Darren Chester met Aussie Broadband executives in Traralgon to discuss improving regional mobile coverage, faster internet speeds, telecommunications resilience, and investment in local jobs and skills development.
• Parliamentary inquiry reveals CFA resource shortfalls after years of Labor neglect, leaving Gippsland communities increasingly vulnerable
  A Parliamentary inquiry has highlighted declining CFA volunteer numbers, ageing firefighting vehicles, workforce shortages and poor fuel management, prompting Nationals' Danny O'Brien to demand urgent action to protect Gippsland communities.
• Wellington Shire Council secures $2M for road safety improvements across five Gippsland towns before mid-2027
  Wellington Shire Council has secured $2 million for road safety upgrades across Maffra, Stratford, Sale, Wurruk and Heyfield, with works beginning before Christmas and completion expected by mid-2027.
• Darren Chester demands urgent Labor investment to fix dangerous Princes Highway and Gippsland arterial roads
  Darren Chester urged Labor governments to urgently fund Gippsland roads, citing dangerous conditions, poor maintenance and reduced investment while highlighting previous Coalition funding for highway and arterial road upgrades.
• Dental experts warn Labor plan could worsen lengthy public dental waits for vulnerable Gippslanders across regional Victoria
  Dental experts warn Labor's proposed public dental expansion could worsen Gippsland wait times, with vulnerable residents already facing waits exceeding two years in some areas.
• Meet the Makers connects local producers, makers and hospitality businesses across Bass Coast and South Gippsland and other council updates
  Meet the Makers will connect Bass Coast and South Gippsland producers, makers and hospitality businesses for networking, collaboration and new opportunities.
• Councils begin planning for renewable energy growth across Wellington and South Gippsland communities
  Wellington and South Gippsland councils have begun a major renewable energy planning project, backed by $4.7 million, to prepare communities for future growth through housing, infrastructure, employment, services and economic development.
• Become a Great Southern rail trail passport collection point with other updates from the South Gippsland Shire Council
  South Gippsland Council seeks Rail Trail Passport collection points, announces a youth bravery award, Toora roadworks, grants, community events, transport updates, tenders, services and opportunities.
• Darren Chester blames Labor-Greens timber shutdown as Maryvale Mill job losses hit Gippsland workers and families
  Federal MP Darren Chester says 84 more Maryvale Mill job losses stem from Labor-Greens forestry policies, urging state and federal governments to fund an economic transition plan for the Latrobe Valley.
• Nationals demand stronger policing as rising Latrobe Valley crime fuels growing community safety concerns and frustration
  The Nationals say rising Latrobe Valley crime and fewer police officers demand urgent Labor government action, calling for stronger policing, tougher laws and better resources to restore community safety.
• Yarragon weekend escape offers country hospitality, local flavours, shopping and scenic West Gippsland adventures
  Yarragon offers an easy West Gippsland weekend escape from Melbourne, combining boutique shopping, local food and wine, scenic walks, galleries, markets and welcoming country accommodation.