Thursday, 17 October 2024

 Nicole WERNER (Warrandyte) (14:57): (858) My question is to the Minister for Police. Why did the minister bar local police from attending my community safety and crime prevention forum when police are attending similar forums hosted by neighbouring MPs? Bryan, a constituent of mine from Doncaster East, attended my community safety and crime prevention forum earlier this year, which I held due to rising community concern after a 48 per cent increase in burglaries across the electorate, including a 73 per cent increase in Doncaster East. After weeks of advertising that police would participate in the forum to answer residents’ questions, local police were informed only 48 hours ahead of the event that they were not allowed to attend, leaving my constituents frustrated and disappointed. Yet there are similar forums running in neighbouring local electorates where police have attended. It would appear that the government has decided that some residents deserve to hear from police whilst others do not.