Media Releases

Communities in the Rodney electorate are being empowered to improve their own safety and security through a share in $1 million in grants announced today by Minister for Crime Prevention Andrew McIntosh.

Community Safety Fund grants of up to $10,000 have been awarded to more than 150 community organisations across Victoria, including in Picola, Nathalia, Echuca, Rochester and Rushworth.

Minister for Crime Prevention Andrew McIntosh said Community Safety Grants were about finding community solutions for community problems.

“Through these grants, the Coalition Government is empowering communities to decide what’s best for them, and giving them funding to make those solutions a reality,” Mr McIntosh said.

Member for Rodney Paul Weller said grants had been awarded to six local sporting clubs, recreation reserve committees and schools to improve security and reduce the risk of theft, vandalism and anti-social behaviour.

Local recipients and projects include:

• Picola Recreation Reserve – the installation of a security window in the building and external lighting in the car park area;
• Nathalia Golf Club – the installation of self-closing security screen doors and keyed window locks to all windows at the club;
• Echuca East Primary School – the construction of a secure bike storage facility;
• Rochester Secondary College – the installation of security lighting at the entrance of the college;
• Rochester Tigers Cricket Club – the installation of a security system for the Corop Community Centre; and
• Rushworth Public Park Reserve – the installation of security window grills and security screen doors to the social club rooms

“These facilities are the heart of our local communities, and are often managed by local volunteers, so crime and anti-social behaviour has a significant impact,” Mr Weller said.

“I’m delighted to be part of a government that is helping so many communities to provide safer and more secure facilities for local people.”

The Community Safety Fund grants are part of the Coalition Government’s four-year $39 million Community Crime Prevention Program, committed to supporting community action on crime prevention to help make communities across Victoria safer.

There will be further grant funding rounds over the next three years.

The Nationals Member for Rodney Paul Weller has welcomed today’s announcement of a new Victorian Coalition Government initiative to crack down on livestock theft and farm crime.

Mr Weller said a new Livestock and Farm Crime Specialists Group would be established within Victoria Police to investigate a recent spike in livestock theft, particularly sheep, and
undertake targeted operations, prosecute offenders and roll out crime prevention initiatives.

He said the new group would also investigate the theft of heavy machinery, including tractors and bobcats, which had become an increasing problem in the Rodney electorate in recent months.

“This announcement delivers on an election commitment to target a growing incidence of
livestock theft and farm crime which is costing our farmers valuable income,” Mr Weller said.

“This type of crime is an increasing problem in regional and rural Victoria however there is currently no central coordinating office within Victoria Police to tackle livestock theft and farm crime offences.”

Mr Weller said in recent months he had been contacted by farmers from Echuca, Cohuna and Rochester who had fallen victim to farm machinery theft.

He said such opportunistic crime took an enormous financial and emotional toll on farmers and many didn’t know where to turn for help.

“The theft of livestock and farm machinery is a unique crime that requires specialist investigative skills and a good partnership between government, police and agricultural groups to catch those responsible.

“As part of this initiative, a statewide network of police investigators will undergo world class
training to become specialists in the field of livestock theft and farm crime.

“As many as 12 Victoria Police members around Victoria will form the Livestock and Farm
Crime Specialists Group and act as a point of contact for farmers.”

A committee, chaired by Victoria Police, and including representatives from the Victorian Farmers Federation, Department of Primary Industries, the Municipal Association of Victoria, the Stock Agents Association of Victoria and other agencies will meet regularly to discuss emerging
trends and issues relating to livestock theft and farm related crime.

Councils in the Rodney electorate now have access to grants of up to $25,000 to target graffiti under an expanded program that has cleaned up one million square metres of graffiti across Victoria.

Member for Rodney Paul Weller said applications for graffiti grants of between $5,000 and $25,000 were available to help councils and local community and sporting groups form partnerships to fight graffiti.

“Over the past six years, offenders working on graffiti clean-up teams across Victoria have cleaned up more than one million square metres of graffiti, an area equal to the size of 50 MCG playing fields,” Mr Weller said.

“This year, the Coalition Government committed $13.5 million to a zero-tolerance approach to graffiti, and is providing these grants to fund projects for the prevention and removal of graffiti at the local level.

“These grants will fund projects that deter, prevent and clean-up graffiti, such as graffiti removal kits and trailers, education programs and environmental design features such as murals.”

Mr Weller said grants would be open to councils to partner with resident’s groups, retailers and local business, community service organisations, community and sporting groups, police and utility companies to deliver projects.

“The Coalition Government’s commitment to stamping out graffiti includes a $4 million boost to roll out a rapid response program to deliver additional clean-up services at graffiti hotspots,” he said.

“The rapid response program will not only act as a strike team to remove graffiti from problem areas, it will also gather intelligence that can be fed back to councils to prevent, deter and potentially prosecute those responsible for graffiti.”

Up to 48 offender work teams under the supervision of Community Correctional Services each week will remove graffiti from state and local government assets, community assets and private property under the supervision of Community Correction Services.

Since the Graffiti Removal Program began, it has provided more than $25 million worth of graffiti removal services and accounts for almost 340,000 hours of unpaid community work worth $8.3 million.

Mr Weller said the grants were part of the Coalition Government’s broader community crime prevention agenda, aimed at empowering communities to find local solutions to local issues.

Community groups and councils in the Rodney electorate can now access grants of up to $10,000 for local crime prevention initiatives as part of the Victorian Coalition Government’s Community Safety Fund.

Nationals MP Paul Weller today encouraged local community and sporting groups in the region to apply for Community Safety Fund (CSF) grants.

“The Coalition Government recognises that communities are best placed to identify and prioritise issues of concern regarding local crime and safety, and we will support them to do so,” Mr Weller said.

“This program is about assisting communities to actively contribute to crime prevention through identifying local crime problems, providing potential solutions and promoting local involvement in action.”

In the first phase of funding, the CSF will provide one-off, non-recurrent grants of up to $10,000 to councils, community, sporting and business groups, and local state government schools to implement practical community safety projects.

Mr Weller said this included projects such as installing security lighting, padlocks, security screens, and fencing, or undertaking awareness activities to deter crime and increase community safety.

The CSF grants program will be implemented over a four-year period, as part of the Coalition Government’s Community Crime Prevention Program.

Minister for Crime Prevention Andrew McIntosh said the Community Crime Prevention Program had been established to engage, support and build local community capacity to address local crime and safety issues.

“Action on community safety and crime prevention is a high priority for the Coalition Government and this initiative will help make communities safer across Victoria,” Mr McIntosh said.

“Alongside law enforcement and the criminal justice system, the implementation of crime prevention initiatives can reduce the risk of crimes occurring, increase community safety and improve community confidence in the safety of local areas.”

The Community Safety Fund grants form part of the Coalition Government’s $39 million commitment to deliver a suite of initiatives to make our communities safer.

For application forms, guidelines and other information please visit www.justice.vic.gov.au/safetygrants

“The Coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to make Victoria safer with new front line police to be allocated by June 30,” Member for Rodney Paul Weller said today.

 

Mr Weller said Campaspe was included in the 46 Police Service Areas (PSAs) across the state identified by Victoria Police as needing additional resources to tackle violent crime and anti-social behaviour.

 

“11 years of neglect by the former Labor Government has left Victoria with the fewest frontline police per person and the least spending on police resourcing per person than any other state in Australia,” Mr Weller said.

 

“The Coalition Government is committed to reversing Labor’s appalling legacy and making Victoria safer.

 

“Today’s announcement proves we’re getting on with the job of delivering 1,700 more police during our first term of government.”

 

Mr Weller said today’s announcement by Victoria Police would be followed by the rollout of further police during the next four years.

 

“Victoria Police is best placed to decide where to allocate resources, based on their analysis of where the highest demand is for new members.

 

“The demand-based model that Victoria Police uses considers factors such as population, crime to population ratio and the level of road accidents to population ratio.”

 

Mr Weller said the allocation model formed part of Victoria Police’s Building Operational Capacity and Capability project, which would deploy the 1,700 new recruits effectively during the next four years.

 

“The project will be reviewed and tested every year to make sure resources are being allocated effectively and accurately reflect the demand for police services across the state,” he said.

The Baillieu/Ryan Government has introduced tough legislation into Parliament this month for increased penalties and new laws to deal with drunken, loutish and threatening behaviour.

Member for Rodney, Paul Weller, said the Coalition was delivering on election commitments to give local police and licensees stronger powers to crack down on anti-social behaviour in and around licensed venues.

The proposed amendments will assist police and licensees in deterring obnoxious, alcohol-fuelled behaviour.

The new changes include:

·          increasing the on-the-spot fine for drunk and disorderly behaviour from $478 to more than $590 for the first offence, and more than $1,100 for a second or subsequent offence

·          increasing the on-the-spot fine for revellers who fail to leave a licensed venue when drunk, violent or quarrelsome from $238.90 to $597.25

·          a new offence to deal with drunks hanging around licensed premises after being refused entry or required to leave

·          a new offence to deal with those attempting to re-enter a venue within 24 hours of being denied entry or required to leave a venue

·          new powers for licensees and police officers to bar troublesome patrons from entering or remaining in a venue for a set period of time.

“The changes in legislation illustrate that antisocial behaviour won’t be tolerated and that people engaged in such behaviour can expect a punishment that will hurt,” Mr Weller said.

“Under these reforms, police and venue operators will have greater power to deal with people who get themselves drunk and cause trouble on the streets or in licensed venues.

“Under a Baillieu/Ryan Government, Victoria will have a responsible liquor licensing framework that strengthens laws related to both the prevention of and enforcement of powers to combat alcohol-related harm,” Mr Weller said.

Local people will be better armed to identify and avoid con men  posing as tradespeople with the launch of a new eduction campaign, Nationals Member for Rodney, Paul Weller, said this week.
 

Mr Weller said northern Victoria was not immune to con men ripping off vulnerable people with dodgy home repairs.

 

The joint education campaign will be run between Consumer Affairs Victoria and Crime Stoppers Victoria and would give consumers the confidence to say “no” to a dodgy tradesperson.

 

“The campaign is aimed at protecting consumers, their homes and their pockets by making them aware of how to spot a travelling con man. These are the sort of people who prey on vulnerable consumers in regional Victoria, and in particular householders affected by the recent flooding should be on their guard,” Mr Weller said.

 

He said that signs that an offer of home repairs may be dubious include:

 

·         someone looking like a tradesman who knocks on your door uninvited;

·         the quote on home repair services is cheap, cash-only or today-only; and

·         the person demands payment for the job before any work has commenced.

 

Mr Weller said that anyone who suspects a travelling con man is operating in their area should contact Consumer Affairs Victoria on 1300 55 81 81.

Nationals Member for Rodney, Paul Weller, is leading a push for the re-vitalisation of the Neighbourhood Watch program.

 

Mr Weller has written to Police and Emergency Services Peter Ryan asking that the Coalition Government act quickly to follow through on a pre-election commitment to provide a major funding boost for the program.

 

“It was an issue that I took up with the previous government following a number of concerns raised around my electorate about the decreasing lack of support for what is a very valuable community initiative.

 

“Traditionally Neighbourhood Watch meetings have been motivated by a strong police presence with well informed reports of police incidents in the neighbourhood.

 

“The volunteer community members play a vital part in protecting neighbourhoods and keeping them safe,” Mr Weller said.

 

He said the previous government’s soft-on-crime approach had caused Neighbourhood Watch to “waste away” because of a lack of resources.

 

“Our pre-election commitment was to provide a $550,000 funding boost over the next four years to enable local communities to regain control of their seats.  Aside from the resource boost this funding will provide, it also sends a clear signal to all those volunteers who have been doing much-valued but under-estimated work in Neighbourhood Watch groups.

 

“It tells them that this government is right behind them and will back their efforts all the way,” Mr Weller said.

 

“Unlawful acts against people and property have no place in Victoria and this government will support Neighbourhood Watch to help prevent crime and reduce fear on our streets and in our rural areas,” he said.

Hoon drivers can expect tougher treatment if the Coalition wins government at the November 27 election, according to Nationals Member for Rodney, Paul Weller.

 

Mr Weller, who spoke on the issue in State Parliament last week, said that hoon drivers were a real menace on both major roads and in towns in country areas.

 

He said that the current Victorian laws allowing for a 48 hour confiscation of a motor vehicle was not harsh enough.

 

“The government has now proposed that this first time offence incurs a seven day impoundment of the vehicle, but we are still of the view that the message needs to be clearer and stronger.

 

“A Coalition Government will introduce immediate 30 day vehicle impoundment for a first time hoon offence, up to three months impoundment for the second offence and a forfeiture and crushing of vehicles for a third offence,” Mr Weller said.

 

Mr Weller said for a third time offender, the impounded car will be stripped for useful parts to be used for safety testing and driver education by the Transport Accident Commission before being crushed.

 

“Communities have had enough of disturbances relating to hoon driving. It is socially unacceptable and very dangerous, not only for the drivers themselves but more so for the community at large.

 

“We are saying that we have had enough.

 

“Under our new laws, a regular hoon driver will have to kiss their car goodbye,” Mr Weller said.

Thing have gone quiet on plans for Echuca’s proposed new police station complex – and

Nationals Member for Rodney, Paul Weller, wants to know why?

 

Mr Weller said this week that he had asked Police and Emergency Services Minister Bob Cameron in mid-July for an update on how the project was proceeding, “but had not heard a word since”.

 

“Given the terrible state of the current police station, it is very important that we keep pushing ahead with planning for the new complex, but I am getting concerned about the lack of progress,” Mr Weller said.

 

He said the current 40 year-old building was outdated, under-sized and unsafe, with white ant infestations reaching crisis point.

 

“As Echuca continues to grow at a very fast rate, both in terms of its permanent population and also in relation to the number of visitors, it is vital that our police facilities keep pace.

 

“The government in its last Budget back in May allocated $4m to buy land for a new police station. After waiting two months, I contacted the minister’s office by letter asking for an update, and I did ask for a prompt reply.

 

“Here we are in mid-September and we still have not heard a word. It is becoming quite frustrating, given that I first raised the issue of the state of our police station some two years ago,” Mr Weller said.

 

He said he understood the need to ensure that the new police station was in the best possible location to serve Echuca’s need for many years to come.

 

“All I am seeking is an assurance from the minister that this strategic planning is well underway and that we can look forward to putting a concrete time frame in place,” Mr Weller said.