Tim Pallas (Tarneit) — The matter I  wish to raise is  for  the Minister for Planning.  The action I  seek is  for the minister to  provide me  with written advice concerning  what  action is  being  undertaken to  ensure  adequate  land acquisitions  are made for  a  dedicated justice precinct  in  the East Werribee employment  precinct. The need for a justice precinct is well recognised in  the city of  Wyndham.  It was a fundamental part of the Werribee employment precinct as originally proposed by  the  Labor  government  and has been supported by the local  council.   Our  current   infrastructure  already   presents  significant difficulties for those in or seeking to access the justice system in Wyndham.

The government has  failed to  address the  needs of the community in respect of the provision of vital policing, legal and court facilities.

Werribee police station  is overburdened and  understaffed  and lacks  even  the basics, such  as enough desks and computers for local police officers. The local Magistrates  Court is badly  in  need of upgrading  as  it becomes  increasingly overcrowded  and  inadequate  to  the  task of  servicing  the complex  security requirements of such a court.  There  is a single community legal service office for upwards of 200 000 residents, serving a population that continues to grow at a high rate. This precinct  has the  potential to  provide this community with a central,  accessible  and integrated  court,  police,  Victoria  Legal  Aid  and community justice centre. It would  be inexcusable  for this  not to  be a  high priority as part of the new employment precinct.

I  note that the  finalised  precinct structure  plan  (PSP) for the  employment precinct mentions the justice precinct  only  as  part  of  a guideline, no. 39, which states:

  A  new  justice  and  cultural  precinct,  incorporating  an integrated police  station and law courts, should  be developed to the north-west of the heritage  park, in the vicinity of the existing Werribee police station.

The introduction to  the PSP provides  that a ‘guideline’ means  that discretion can  be exercised and allows alternatives to be considered.  It  is  the  weaker alternative to a ‘requirement’, which must be adhered to.

The justice precinct has apparently been subsumed under the commercial hub.

The  listed  planning requirements put  police  and emergency  services  and law courts in place as part of  the civic precinct, which also  includes in its list of appropriate uses galleries and museums, restaurants,  cafes and bars, private kindergartens  and  car  parks. None of this indicates to me that the  dedicated justice precinct is a high priority  for this  government. It  is of  the utmost importance that a justice precinct be developed with  the  ability  to cater for not only existing but also future growth needs in the community. A crucial tenet of  this  is  ensuring  that there is adequate land acquisition for  the  future justice precinct as land in  the vicinity of the current Werribee police station becomes available. It is my understanding  that government land to the south and east of the Werribee police station will  soon be put on the market. I  ask that the minister confirm to what extent we can be  confident  that  this  government intends ensuring that this development will include  this  much-needed dedicated justice precinct.