Hansard debates

Anthony CARBINES (Ivanhoe – Leader of the House, Minister for Police, Minister for Community Safety, Minister for Victims, Minister for Racing) (10:19): I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

I ask that my second-reading speech be incorporated into Hansard.

Incorporated speech as follows:

The Victorian Government is committed to continuing to support Victoria Police to effectively and efficiently perform its duties and protect our community.

The Victoria Police Amendment (Police Reservists) Bill 2026 introduces reforms under the Police portfolio to enhance Victoria Police frontline capacity by introducing a police reservist scheme.

These reforms are aimed at addressing the administrative burdens that impact frontline policing capacity. Police officers are often taken away from frontline duties to undertake non-operational duties including responding to public enquiries and other administrative tasks. These tasks are important and necessary to ensure the proper functioning of Victoria Police, however, they do not need to be undertaken by police officers who could be otherwise used to prevent and respond to crime in our community.

The introduction of a police reservist scheme will provide an additional pool of resources to complete non-operational duties. By introducing this scheme, Victoria Police will have access to an operationally-trained workforce that can appropriately support the delivery of policing services. This means that more police officers will be out patrolling the streets and responding to the needs of the community, rather than sitting behind desks.

Further, the presence of uniformed police reservists at police stations performing non-operational work will also enhance community confidence.

This is not a new scheme. A previous police reservist scheme existed under the former Police Regulation Act ‍1958 (PR Act). There are also provisions in the Victoria Police Act 2013 to manage existing police reservists. We know that employing police reservists to perform administrative duties works to ease pressure on frontline police officers. That is why we need to reintroduce the power of the Chief Commissioner of Police to appoint new reservists.

I turn now to the detail of the reforms in the Bill.

The Victoria Police Amendment (Police Reservists) Bill 2026 will empower the Chief Commissioner of Police to appoint police reservists as considered necessary to perform non-operational duties in support of sworn police officers.

When on duty, police reservists will have the general duties and powers of a constable at common law and may perform non-operational duties such as, but not limited to, tasks to support commencement of an investigation, assisting with public enquiries and other front counter duties at police stations such as taking crime reports at the front counter or over the phone.

Police reservists will perform their functions under the direction or control of the Chief Commissioner of Police, or any other police officer or reservist determined by the Chief Commissioner.

The legislative scheme allows for the making of regulations to prescribe criteria for the appointment of police reservists. It is anticipated that criteria that will be prescribed will include that for a person to be employed as a police reservist, they must have been a former police officer with a minimum of 2 years’ cumulative service in a police force. However, becoming a police reservist will not be solely limited to former members of Victoria Police. Police officers who have served in other jurisdictions can be appointed as a police reservist, if they meet the other required criteria.

Further proposed criteria include that the person is of good character and reputation and that the person is a citizen or permanent resident of Australia. It is also intended that prospective police reservists will have to complete a medical examination to the satisfaction of a registered medical practitioner nominated by the Chief Commissioner of Police and meet requirements for general intelligence and physical fitness.

Police reservists will be able to be appointed on a part-time, full-time, fixed-term or ongoing basis.

An example of a person who may become a police reservist is a police officer who may have instead considered retirement due to the strenuous impacts of frontline duties. Following this example, the police reservist scheme means keeping the knowledge and wisdom of experienced police officers within Victoria Police for longer.

The Chief Commissioner will have the power to require police reservists to attend training as and when deemed necessary. The Chief Commissioner will also have the power to suspend or terminate the appointment of a police reservist at any time.

I commend the Bill to the House.