Liberals slam Labor as crime numbers climb

CRIME has risen in the past year across the Surf Coast and Geelong according to the Crime Statistics Agency (CSA), and the Victorian Liberals say the figures prove the need for stronger policy responses and increased frontline support for law enforcement.

The CSA statistics for the 12 months to June 2025 show there were 1,054 criminal incidents in the Surf Coast Shire — up 8 per cent from the previous 12 months.

Of these, nearly 30 per cent had charges laid, 18.1 per cent had no charges laid and more than half were unsolved.

In the City of Greater Geelong, there were 19, 175 criminal incidents over the same time period — up 12.5 per cent on the previous 12 months.

Of these, 37.7 per cent had charges laid, 14.4 per cent had no charges laid, and 48 per cent were unsolved.

The Liberals have been campaigning heavily on law and order under Opposition Leader Brad Battin, including their policies should the party win next year’s state election.

“The Allan Labor Government has failed to fix youth crime, failed to fix bail, and failed to give police the support they need,” Polwarth Liberal MP Richard Riordan said.

“Jacinta Allan has cut $50 million from the police budget, closed stations and drastically reduced opening hours at other police stations across Polwarth.”

This week, the Allan Government announced it would re-open 30 beds for a lower-risk cohort of offenders at the Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre, which closed at the end of 2023.

Labor says this will free up more custodial beds at the Cherry Creek and Parkville youth prisons for serious high-risk offenders.

In response to the statistics, Labor Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney said her thoughts were with every victim of crime in the community.

“The Allan Labor Government is listening and delivering the strongest bail laws in the country. This includes the new high-harm bail test now in effect that will make it near impossible for repeat violent offenders to get bail. Because of our record $4.5 billion investment in Victoria Police we have the largest police force in Australia – and there are 188 additional police officers for the Geelong district, which services Surf Coast and Armstrong Creek.”

“I thank Victoria Police for their work around the clock to keep residents safe and we will continue to back them with the resources they need to crack down on crime.”