Wednesday, 8 June 2022

Northern Victoria Region

Mr QUILTY (Northern Victoria) (12:56): (1832) My constituency question is for the Minister for Police. I have been contacted by a constituent from the small Northern Victorian town of Myrtleford with the following concern, and I will read her words verbatim:

I have been trying many many times to speak to someone at the station. It is never open. I have a major concern needing to be addressed regarding safety, health and wellbeing. I have tried police no sirens. Big wait. I have tried police online reporting. No option to voice my concern.

There is a sign on the door that says station is not open. This sign seems to always be on the door whether a vehicle is there or not. When you ring the buzzer Wangaratta answers and says the officers are out on patrol. I very rarely see a police vehicle in the town let alone an officer. I believe Myrtleford need extra police staff or police officers.

Minister, it sounds like the Myrtleford township and its residents have been forgotten about, like many other understaffed police stations across Northern Victoria. Minister, can you tell me how often the Myrtleford police station is unmanned due to police shortages?