The Coalition today drew attention to the Productivity Commission publication Report on Government Services 2008 showing Victoria has the lowest prevalence of crime against the person in Australia.
Police Minister Bob Cameron said he was surprised the coalition had just read the report considering it was released on 31 January 2008.
“The coalition has obviously been too busy with other things to read this report on policing, “Mr Cameron said.
The coalition has been quick to point to spending per capita but have left out the results of that spending.
“The coalition has been running down the hard work of police for some time. They dismiss the fact police have reduced crime by 23.5 per cent since 2000/01,” Mr Cameron said.
Mr Cameron said that unlike the coalition he read the Productivity Commission report in January when it came out.
“If the coalition want to hold up the Productivity Commission report as a true snapshot of policing then I couldn’t be happier.”
Mr Cameron said the report covers the 2006/07 period and shows:
· Victorian Policing Services are delivered efficiently in Victoria;
· Victoria has the lowest prevalence of crime against the person (reported and unreported) and the second lowest prevalence of property crime in Australia;
· Victoria’s Crime Victimisation rate is significantly lower than the national average; and
· Victorians are generally satisfied with the service they receive from Victoria Police – ranked 2nd across Australia.
“The coalition would like us all to believe that crime is out of control but the facts in this report which they have championed show it to be a lie,” Mr Cameron said.
“The coalition would like us all to believe that crime is out of control but the facts in this report which they have championed show it to be a lie.”
Mr Cameron said the coalition’s record on policing speaks volumes. While Mr Baillieu was Liberal Party president in the 1990s, he signed up to Jeff Kennett cuts resulting in the loss of 800 police officers.
“Contrast this to the Labor Government’s record of adding over 1400 sworn police since 1999 and delivering a record budget of $1.6 billion last year and it is clear which party is serious about resourcing police,” Mr Cameron said.
“The Brumby Government has funded a further 350 new sworn police, to be delivered by 2010.”