Ministers statements: Victoria Police

Mr PALLAS (Treasurer) — I rise to update the house on the continuing investment — in fact the unprecedented investment — that the Andrews Labor government is making into community safety. Victoria Police do an incredible job, and we have invested funds to support them in doing just that. Sadly there have been too many reminders right across globe and here at home in recent weeks of the important role that police play, particularly in the last 24 hours. I would like to thank Victoria Police members for putting themselves on the line to keep us safe every day. I wish the officers injured in Brighton a speedy recovery, and of course our thoughts are with the family of the employee at the apartment.

It is tragic events like those we have seen in Manchester, in London and now in Brighton that demonstrate that we must all remain vigilant in keeping the community safe. That is why we are taking the unprecedented action to give Victoria Police the powers and resources that they need to keep Victoria safe. We are not pointscoring; we are not grandstanding; we are just getting on and providing them with the wherewithal to be able to do the work they need to do. We back our police and we do not question their bravery or their independence.

Since coming to office, this government has worked closely with police on identifying the investment that is required. The 17–18 budget of course provided a historic $2 billion for police, the biggest ever investment in the history of Victoria Police; $1.9 billion has been invested in family violence to deal with that scourge and 3135 more police have been committed to by this government since we came to power, who will be deployed over the next five years. We make sure that Victoria Police is adequately resourced to get on with the job.