LIBERAL
This past summer, everyone had a story of crime – from car theft, to home invasion and robbery.
At the start of the summer, there was a shooting in Rye; at the end of summer a woman and an 18-month-old baby were confronted with a gun in a shopping centre – although fake, it was allegedly stolen from a nearby store, and allegedly wielded against passersby at the Target in Somerville by teenagers.
At both a state and federal level the Labor government has completely dropped the ball. Data released by the Crime Statistics Agency in September of last year revealed that crime has surged by over 22% in the Mornington Peninsula Shire, in the year ending June 2024. This compares to a 10% increase in the number of criminal incidents across Victoria.
Zoe McKenzie, Federal Member for Flinders, commented that “it’s time we take offenders seriously. If they do adult crimes, they should be given jail. If they commit serious crimes while on a visa they should be deported.”
“When Peter Dutton was Home Affairs Minister, Australia took a firm stance in protecting the community from crime. An elected Coalition government will invest $7.5 million in Crime Stoppers over the next three years to expand operations aimed at reducing crime. We will ensure tougher penalties for violent youth gangs and those who share and glorify brutal attacks online.”
Zoe McKenzie MP, Federal Member for Flinders, will be hosting a community safety forum with Jason Wood, Shadow Minister for Community Safety, in Somerville at 12pm on 17 March to discuss solutions to the crime crisis. RSVPs can be made to Zoe.McKenzie.MP@aph.gov.au, or by phone to 03 5977 9082.
First published in the Mornington News – 11 March 2025
