Queries have been raised over how the new Ballarat West emergency services hub will be sufficiently stocked with police members.
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Western Victoria MP Joshua Morris raised the question in Parliament earlier this week, despite the state government’s recent budget announcement including of a $596 million public safety package for the training of more than 400 officers.
“I note that the Ballarat West emergency services precinct is listed in the 2016–17 Victorian budget as being due to be completed prior to June 30, 2016, having been funded by the former coalition government,” Mr Morris said.
“In the state of Victoria presently we have fewer police officers keeping our communities safe than we did prior to the coalition leaving government in 2014.”
Ballarat West MP Sharon Knight said the new package will prove to be a considerable boost to Victoria’s police forces.
“The allocation of Victoria Police resources is determined by the police commissioner. Politicians shouldn’t allocate resources and nor should they,” Ms Knight said.
“The $596 million public safety package includes an additional 406 sworn Victoria Police officers, 52 support personnel and police custody officers, some of whom have been sent to the Ballarat Police Station, which will free up other officers for the front line.”
The exact numbers required to operate the new station are unknown, with a Victoria Police spokesperson confirming police numbers by station or service area are not released.
The Police Association secretary Ron Iddles said it would be a “disappointing outcome” if current Ballarat officers are required to man the station.
“While The Police Association welcomes a new policing facility in Ballarat, this won’t necessarily mean an improved policing service for the people of Ballarat unless it means that there will be more police to serve the region,” Mr Iddles said.
“From what we have been unofficially told, we fear this won’t be the case and that police members to be housed in this new facility will come from the Ballarat police station.”