The Nationals’ Member for Northern Victoria Gaelle Broad has condemned the Allan Labor Government as Bendigo council subsidises self-defence classes for women amid a spiralling crime crisis.
“When local councils are forced to subsidise self-defence classes with ratepayers’ money because women don’t feel safe in their own community, you know the State Government has completely lost control,” Ms Broad said.
The series of classes cost just $5 per person and are designed for women over 55.
“The Premier Jacinta Allan is in denial about crime in Melbourne’s CBD and it’s obvious her own backyard is unsafe, given council is taking this extraordinary step,” Ms Broad said.
“This is not normal. This is what happens when a Premier refuses to take community safety seriously, even in her own hometown.
“Residents of Bendigo are living through a crime crisis. Over a 12-month period, total crime is up 10 per cent, with aggravated robbery up 95 per cent, motor vehicle theft up 19 per cent, residential aggravated burglary up 12 per cent and stealing from a retail store up 32 per cent,” Ms Broad said.
“Labor cut $50 million from Victoria Police’s budget and now families and local businesses are paying the price. This is completely unacceptable.”
Ms Broad said The Nationals would take a fundamentally different approach to law and order.
“The Nationals in Government will introduce a $100 million Safer Communities Plan. This plan will tackle crime and rebuild trust in our justice system. We’ll make bail laws stronger with our clear policy: Break bail, face jail. If you break bail, you face jail, because accountability matters.
“We’ll introduce Jack’s Law, giving police and PSOs the tools and technology they need to get knives off the streets before tragedy strikes,” Ms Broad said.
“We also recognise we cannot arrest our way out of this problem. We will give young people pathways out of crime and provide programs to steer them toward education, work, and opportunity.
“Regional Victorians deserve to feel safe, yet crime is rising across our region. Labor’s had over a decade to fix this, but crime is getting worse, not better. It’s time for a fresh start under a Nationals and Liberals Government — with less waste, lower taxes and less crime.”
