The Nationals’ Member for Morwell, Martin Cameron, has sought an assurance from the Allan Labor Government that its plans to redeploy Protective Services Officers (PSOs) to major retail precincts will not result in the removal of PSOs from Traralgon.
PSOs have a dedicated presence at 216 train stations in Melbourne, yet just four stations in the whole of regional Victoria are patrolled by PSOs.
“I support additional security in busy shopping centres, but any shift of PSOs without proper resourcing, particularly from Traralgon and other regional centres, risks undermining safety on our already troubled rail network,” Mr Cameron said.
“The government must explain how its deployment of PSOs will operate and provide a clear guarantee that PSO coverage at Traralgon will not be reduced.
“My electorate, including Traralgon, has the highest rate of criminal incidents in the state outside of metropolitan Melbourne.
“We cannot afford to lose our PSOs through redeployment just because Labor can’t manage money and chooses to prioritise the city over the regions.”
Under a Coalition government, 200 additional PSOs will form strike teams to patrol high-risk shopping centres – including in Morwell, Moe and Traralgon – to protect retail workers and shoppers.
Backed by Jack’s Law, they will have the authority and technology to remove knives and machetes from criminals before they are used to commit violent crime.
“Our plan is fully budgeted, and unlike Labor’s disastrous thought bubble it won’t see a single PSO removed from the public transport system,” Mr Cameron said.
“I have been pleading with Labor to deploy more PSOs across regional Victoria for nearly three years, and for three years these pleas have fallen on deaf ears.
“It is criminal that these pleas are being ignored and unthinkable that we face cuts to already chronically under-resourced PSO numbers in regional Victoria because of this government’s incompetence.
“I’m demanding a guarantee from the Allan Labor Government that PSOs will not be taken from Traralgon under the redeployment of PSO resources.”
