PROTESTORS WASTE POLICE RESOURCES
Member for Western Victoria Region, Bev McArthur called on all Victorians to condemn the climate protest set to take place in Melbourne today.
Today is set to be another high fire danger day in Victoria, where police resources will be required in fire-affected areas to assist in the provision of emergency services.
Melbourne climate protests in October reportedly cost the taxpayer $3 million in police resources, requiring over 100 police officers.
Bev McArthur said “It is becoming very clear that there are two Victorias. One, where generous and caring people are volunteering their time (some even risking life and limb to save others), donating resources, expertise and money, while others are choosing to protest.”
“Farmers have been donating hay; other rural Victorians have been assisting in the agistment and transportation of starving animals; many Victorians are caring for injured wildlife; packing care packages for those who have lost everything; helping people deal with devastation and loss and working out how communities can re-build.”
“On a day that authorities are bracing for extreme fire danger, these student climate activists should be volunteering their boundless energy instead of protesting.”
“The organiser is clearly delusional, suggesting that ‘we don’t actually need’ police resources present at the protest, when the last protest resulted in 69 arrests.”
“I share the frustration of the Victorian Police Acting Assistant Commissioner, Tim Hansen who has described the protest as a ‘distraction’ when his frontline staff are ‘returning from the fire ground...fatigued...and this is now another operation needing to be resourced.’ He said he was ‘frustrated by the lack of flexibility by the organisers’.”
“I urge all Victorians to condemn these protests for the strain they will place on police resources during a period of state emergency, and to discourage all those who plan to attend,” she concluded.
ENDS
10 January 2019