South Gippsland Shire has recorded the highest 10-year growth in crime across the state after a decade of Labor Government, according to new crime statistics released today*.
The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien said it was extremely concerning that latest offences recorded showed crime has risen 20.3 per cent in South Gippsland Shire in the past year, but a whopping 93.3 per cent, or almost double, since Labor came to power in 2014.
The number of offences recorded in the Wellington Shire also rose 11 per cent in the past year and 18.9 per cent over 10 years.
Mr O’Brien said while South Gippsland remains a relatively low crime area and our local police officers do a great job, they are clearly hampered by the lack of support from the Labor Government.
“The number of offences has grown from 1148 back in 2014, to 2379 with these latest figures.
“That’s an increase of 93.3 per cent which is virtually double in 10 years. There is no doubt that under Labor, rural and regional crime has become a real problem as the government focuses its resources on the city and fails to support our local police.
“We’ve seen a significant increase in recent months of juvenile, but still very serious crime and that has concerned many people across the South Gippsland area.
“Indeed, 2500 people signed a petition that I tabled in Parliament recently calling for better police resources in our communities.
“The increase in crime over the past decade is the highest of any municipality across the state and that is not a title that we want to have.
“It highlights the challenges we’re facing in our local communities and I call on the Allan Labor Government to do more to support police in our region, as well as stopping the revolving door of bail that repeatedly sees offenders released only to offend again.”