Crime: Doncaster ElectorateWednesday, June 09, 2010 AdjournmentMs WOOLDRIDGE (Doncaster) -- I rise to call on the Minister for Police and Emergency Services to take action to dispel the concerns of Doncaster residents who are living in fear in their community. I recently conducted a survey of residents to hear their views on crime and whether they felt safe in their neighbourhood. Over 40 per cent of residents who responded said they had been the victim of a crime at some stage in their lives. To my horror I found that 88 per cent of respondents did not feel safer in their homes than they did 10 years ago. Nearly an equal number, 87 per cent, did not feel safe using public transport after dark. Nearly all, 94 per cent, believed alcohol-fuelled violence was a problem in Melbourne. It is clear from these figures that there is considerable concern among residents about crime in our community. Every Victorian should feel safe in their homes, on their street and in their community. Yet in reality many of us do not. Two older female residents reported stalkers following them in Doncaster in the early morning and evening. One told me she lived in constant terror of a man following her on a motorcycle. She had informed police, only to be told he was only after her handbag. Another East Doncaster resident told me that they would not walk out at night, they did not feel safe in the daytime and that ten years ago they did not worry. A 66-year-old Doncaster resident, who has been living in the area for 34 years, told me she had always felt safe in her home. However with the incidence of house break-ins increasing and possibly more widespread reporting of incidents she feels less comfortable. She said that she would certainly not walk the streets alone at night nor would she open her door at night. I think these comments are a sad indictment of the mood of our community and one the coalition is determined to change. One Doncaster resident said she believed street lighting was 'dangerously dark' at night and thought solar-powered lights would make streets more safe and secure. An 83-year-old Doncaster East resident told me that she believed hoon cars should be crushed after the first offence as they know they have broken the law. This was echoed by others in my electorate. This resident also says she believes fines and sentencing are soft. She said that she did not believe there was any respect for police from adolescents. These sentiments make it clear this government is failing on law and order. However, a coalition government would move quickly to ease these concerns of our residents. We have a plan to have 1600 new police on our streets, abolish suspended sentences, introduce tough new anti-hoon laws, make our transport network safer, ban the sale of knives, outlaw criminal bikie gangs, restore information to local Neighbourhood Watch groups, ban violent drunks, shake up liquor licences and end home detention. Of course the government has recently taken up a number of our law and order policies. I believe we should cut out the middle man and put the coalition in government so individuals and families can once again feel safe in our homes, streets and communities.
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