Petrol theft is a crime

3/10/14
MEDIA STATEMENT, Australian Country Alliance Party
The Vic Government and in particular Kim Wells, the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, appear to have “gone missing” in the matter of petrol theft, an issue which not only affects large but particularly small businesses. It is estimated that petrol theft costs businesses around $45million annually – in Vic somewhere between $12m and $15million.
Tougher penalties and more deterrents are required to turn this trend around as one-off arrests clearly do not appear to have a lasting impact on this crime.
The Geelong Magistrates Court recently confirmed the criminal nature of petrol theft by granting permission to independent retailer to pursue the details of petrol thieves through VicRoads. The magistrate clearly stated that “a criminal act is a criminal act”.
For Minister Wells to have the nerve to suggest that petrol theft may best be treated as a civil rather than criminal offence is frankly unbelievable. To tell fuel retailers that they may need to undertake civil action to recover losses they may incur borders on the offensive.
In the long run it is not just the business operators that pick up the tab but all motorists who ultimately share the cost at the petrol bowser. All of this because a government and a police minister are unwilling to or incapable of doing their jobs.
It is especially important to realise that because the Victorian police force does not record fuel thefts as a crime and they do not show up in the Police crime statistics making them look better than they are. With a forthcoming state election it could be concluded that this was another cynical exercise by this Government.
If crime is a measure of a state’s failure then this government is failing. In particular it is failing a host of small business operators who have every right to expect better protection from their police force and their government.
The Victorian government needs to take a stance now to stop these crimes. It must recognise that stealing fuel is a crime like the theft of any other property and that they cannot continue to dodge the issue by holding to the absurd suggestion that petrol theft is a civil matter.
For further information or comment please contact one of our candidates
Robert Danieli (Northern Victoria) – 0419 992 077
Garry Kerr (Western Victoria) – 0412 586 925
Andrew Jones (Eastern Victoria) – 0427 557 093
Australian Country Alliance
PO Box 108, Golden Square, Vic 3555
0434 575 299 – secretary@auscountryalliance.org
auscountryalliance.org