Southern Metropolitan Region
Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:29): (793) My question is for the Minister for Police. Last month I met with traders in Port Melbourne, and I listened to their concerns around the increasing levels of crime and the antisocial behaviour that is occurring in the retail precinct around Bay Street in Port Melbourne. The businesses and residents are really concerned about the increasing levels of crime that are occurring. Bay Street is a vibrant community. It has got dining and commercial services, yet locals are feeling increasingly unsafe, and security has been taken out of the major shops in the area. The need for greater local presence for police has been of great concern for many communities in my area of Southern Metropolitan Region. We hear today that police have got concerns around protests where local services are being taken out of the community. I ask the minister to provide the Port Melbourne Business Association with an assurance that he will address this issue as a priority and ensure that there are more patrols in the Bay Street area.