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It has been very pleasing to see over recent years the marked increase in the interest of many in the South Asia community in State politics and the important issues that matter to that community and every community in Victoria.

As I have visited South Asian communities and events all over Victoria and talked to many individuals and families, I have encouraged everyone to engage with the issues that are important to them, increase their participation in the life of their community and have their views properly heard and understood. 

As part of that engagement, I have also encouraged promising Victorians of South Asian origin to stand for Parliament not only to better represent and give voice to their community, but also as individuals of talent and ability who have a lot to give to this State and its future. 
As a result it is great to see capable, experienced people such as Nitin Gupta in the Northern Metropolitan Region electorate stepping forward to contest pre-selection as a Coalition candidate for the coming State election.
However I would like to see many more taking those same steps to enter Parliament based on their capacity, talent and energy.  
The South Asian community in Victoria now numbers around 200,000 and is growing very rapidly.  That community has greatly enriched the culture, diversity and economy of the State and will contribute even more in the coming years.  The community should be properly represented and its issues should get the attention they deserve – something that has just not happened under the Brumby Labor Government.

Opportunities will offer themselves now and in the future and I would strongly encourage those men and women in the South Asian community who have a sense of public duty, a vision for this State and their community and who want to contribute to a better Victoria to seriously consider coming forward and standing for Parliament.
The Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition is a political party based on providing opportunity, encouraging initiative, strengthening diversity and tolerance, passionately supporting enterprise and rewarding hard work and ability.   We welcome and celebrate those men and women from the South Asian community who want to drive their community and Victoria forward into a rewarding future with vigour and vision.
The Coalition’s vision for Victoria has been clearly and strongly on show in recent months as we get closer to the November election.  We have put out many policies over the last few years and the Brumby Labor Government is so lacking in ideas and vision that John Brumby has to date copied over sixty of those Coalition policies.

The Brumby Government had for years done nothing about increasing police numbers to combat the rising violence on Melbourne streets and transport system.  Labor did nothing for years while violence damaged many families in the South Asian community.   Victoria has the fewest police per person and spends less on police per person than any other State.  The Brumby Government has failed to provide the resources the police need to properly protect our communities and tackle the crime wave in our streets.
It took the Coalition’s strong commitment to recruit and train 1,700 additional police officers if we are elected before John Brumby did anything after a decade of inaction.
And they still have done nothing substantial to tackle violence on our public transport while the Coalition stands by its commitment to make our train network safe again by putting 940 fully trained Victoria Police Protective Services Officers on every train station in metropolitan Melbourne and the major regional centres after 6pm until last train every day of the week, while also providing 100 more Victoria Police officers to patrol the train, tram and bus networks.

In January, I announced that a Baillieu Government would restore justice to sentencing and help ensure appropriate penalties by abolishing suspended sentences while the Brumby Government pretended that an offender is serving a term of imprisonment when in fact they are living free in the community.
At the time we announced this policy the Brumby Government strongly criticised it but has now totally reversed its position, although under Labor’s revolving door there will be no change for the vast majority of offences, including serious crimes such as recklessly causing serious injury, aggravated burglary, arson and drug trafficking. 
Only under a Coalition Government will jail actually mean jail in all cases. 
The Brumby Labor Government cannot be trusted to keep its word.  It cannot be trusted to deliver on its promises.  After a decade of Labor, Victorians are still waiting for real action.  Labor’s is only interested in its own re-election and is not delivering better services and government to Victoria.

If you have any problems with housing, education, crime, police, health care, transport, consumer matters or any other area of State Government responsibility, please do not hesitate to contact me with your concerns.  You can write to me at Parliament House, East Melbourne, Victoria, 3002 or email me at ted.baillieu@parliament.vic.gov.au.  My website is at http://www.tedbaillieu.com.au;
Regards
Ted Baillieu
LEADER OF LIBERAL NATIONALS COALITION