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Below: In the lead-up to the recent Victorian State elections, which the Liberal-Nationals won, a series of advertisements was run on the issue of public transport violence and passenger safety. This is one of the television ads.
Below: A Seven news clip on Melbourne's suburban railway lines and how while some are notorious for assaults and other violence, others, including western suburban lines, are seen as relatively safe Below: Another Seven news report which appears to question whether guards should be deployed at "quiet" stations with few passengers after 7.00 PM. |
 Web links, documents |
Victoria Police has a section on its Internet site that details the duties and the training required of Protective Services Officers (PSOs). The full text of this document can be found at http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.asp?Document_ID=123
In July 2009, the Office of Police Integrity released a review titled, 'Review of the Use of Force by and against Victoria Police'. The review recommended a series of reforms that it claimed needed to be made to reduce the hazards associated with Victoria Police's use of firearms.
The full text of this review can be found at http://www.opi.vic.gov.au/index.php?i=118&m=8&t=1
The Liberal Party's video site, Liberal TV, carries a speech of the premier's, Ted Baillieu, explaining why his government proposes to place two armed guards on all Melbourne metropolitan railway stations after dark. This video can be accessed at http://www.vic.liberal.org.au/LiberalTV/LiberalTVPlayer/TabId/60/VideoId/66/2640-New-Police-And-Protective-Service-Officers.aspx
On November 8, 2010, the Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition issued a media release titled, 'Baillieu to stop crime in its tracks with new transport security force'
The press release details the plans the Coalition had in Opposition to improve rail safety and formed part of its 2009 election campaign.
The full text of this media release can be found at http://vic.liberal.org.au/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=QnMN0LmJLMg=&tabid=189
On March 26, 2011, The Courier Mail published a news report titled, 'Train guards need toilet escort' detailing the concerns of the new Victorian leader of the Opposition Daniel Andrews regarding the lack of toilet facilities on many metropolitan platforms.
The full text of the report can be found at http://www.couriermail.com.au/ipad/train-guards-need-toilet-escort/story-fn6ck4a4-1226028201401
On March 28, 2011, Daniel Andrews, the leader of the Victorian Opposition, issued a news report detailing his objections to the Government's announcement that it would scrap plans to upgrade the Frankston line. Andrews criticises the Government's intention to go ahead with the placement of armed guards along a line that it no longer intends to upgrade.
The full text of this comment can be found at http://www.vic.alp.org.au/news-events-media/news/baillieu-turns-his-back-on-highett-and-parkdale-co/
On April 11, 2011, ABC Radio National's The World Today reported that the operator of Melbourne's train network, Metro, had just announced it will carry out a risk assessment of the Victorian government's plan to put armed guards on train platforms.
A full transcript together with a recording of the report can be accessed at http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2011/s3187921.htm
On April 11, 2011, the ABC posted a news report by Simon Lauder, titled, 'Armed train-platform guards "a recipe for disaster"'. Despite its title, the report considers both concerns about the guards and the favourable reception the proposal has met with from some train travellers.
The full text of this report can be found at http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/04/11/3188123.htm?site=southwestvic
On April 18, 2011, the Victorian Government issued a media release titled, 'PSOs - Myths and Facts.' The release looks at a variety of criticisms that have been raised against the proposed use of armed PSOs on Victorian railway stations and supplies an answer to each.
The full text of this release can be accessed on the Internet site of State member for Carrum, Donna Brauer at http://www.donnabauer.com.au/mediareleases/doc_download/37-psos-myths-and-facts.html
Rail Page, a rail users news site and forum for Australian and New Zealand rail travellers, has posted a report originally published in The Age titled, 'Rail staff up in arms over plan for station guards' detailing the opposition of the Rail, Tram and Bus Union to the use of armed guards on Victorian train stations. The full text of the article can be found at http://www.railpage.com.au/news-8589.htm