Tuesday, 1 April 2025

Mildura electorate

Jade BENHAM (Mildura) (14:59): (1072) My constituency question today is to the Minister for Police. The Red Cliffs and Carwarp Community Plan 2023–2028 highlights growing concerns about crime, safety and a lack of police presence in Red Cliffs, Merbein and surrounding communities. Residents have reported feeling increasingly vulnerable, yet the Red Cliffs police station remains severely understaffed, operating with only five officers instead of the required 10, and local officers are frequently redirected to Mildura. We understand that Victoria Police are under enormous pressure, with around 1200 vacancies statewide. The Mildura region alone is under-resourced by 54 officers, and this chronic shortage is directly impacting community safety. Will the minister commit to urgently addressing police shortages in Red Cliffs and Merbein by allocating more officers to these towns, ensuring stable, long-term policing structures, rather than leaving regional Victorians without the frontline protection they deserve?