Several Nationals politicians have spoken out about what they say is a plan by the Victorian Government to strip country towns of their one-officer police stations and roster them into larger regional hubs and cities.
There are 98 one-officer stations throughout the state, with local ones including those at Dookie, Murchison, Violet Town, Stanhope, Katamatite and Tungamah.
State Member for Northern Victoria Gaelle Broad said a plan by police command to change enterprise bargaining agreements would allow single-officer station staff to be used to fill vacant shifts in bigger stations.
“If the mobility clause is passed, one-member stations could end up backfilling vacancies to meet the staffing requirements of 24-hour police stations and eventually be forced to close,” Ms Broad told parliament.
“As well as deterring and responding to crime, people feel much safer knowing there is a police presence in the town.
“Steps to fill rosters should not be to the detriment of one-member police stations in regional communities.”
Ms Broad urged the police minister to assure local communities that one-member police stations would remain.
“People living in regional areas are tired of being treated like second-class citizens by the Labor Government,” she said.
“We heard evidence at the budget hearings in June that there are around 800 vacancies unfilled throughout Victoria Police.
“The government should be addressing these shortages, not robbing regional communities of their local police to fill the rosters at bigger stations.”
State Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland is supporting a new community online petition calling on the government to guarantee one-person police stations would not close.
She raised the issue in parliament, saying the change would risk the safety of those in smaller towns.
“This move threatens to leave rural communities without a policing presence and sends a signal that the safety and protection of our rural communities doesn’t matter,” Ms Cleeland said.
“Many of these small country towns are too far away from a major centre for police to respond to an emergency situation within a reasonable time frame.
“Given the multi-faceted role of single-officer stations, it will undoubtedly result in a rise in crime and decline in community safety and wellbeing in these areas.”
Police Minister Anthony Carbines’ office said decisions around the allocation and deployment of police officers were a matter for the chief commissioner.
A Victoria Police spokesperson said it had no ongoing issues staffing one-person stations due to resourcing.
“When a police station counter is closed, police are still available and on patrol 24 hours a day to respond to incidents and deter crime,” the spokesperson said.
As for the enterprise bargaining agreement, Victoria Police would not be drawn on any issues and only confirmed the negotiations for the next agreement had started.
“In the interests of good faith bargaining and maintaining the integrity of the bargaining process, Victoria Police will not provide a running commentary on specific matters which may be the subject of negotiation,” the spokesperson said.
The petition can be found at www.parliament.vic.gov.au/view-sign-e-petitions/details/12/526 and will remain open until November 17.