Mr Scates said government cuts were forcing police stations in regional Victoria to close.

“Denis Napthine cut $113 million from the Victoria Police budget and police support staff have disappeared,” he said.

“It’s pretty poor form that they’ve done nothing to fill it.

“They say it’s just become vacant but they’ve known for a while it would happen because the policeman there accepted a transfer.

“At this stage I don’t know of any attempts to fill it.”

Mr Scates also pointed to the absence of a dedicated officer at Piangil in the Mallee.

He said the government might be intending to fill the vacancy at Minyip.

“I’m not saying they are not going to fill it but at this stage it seems to be slow-tracked,” Mr Scates said.

Member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty, whose electorate used to encompass Minyip and will again at the next election because of electoral boundary changes, said one-officer stations were difficult to fill.

“Policing is changing as Police Commissioner Ken Lay has outlined to members of parliament,” he said. 

“We are keen to staff one-officer stations but not a lot of police want to work at them.

“It is a different environment and many police are cautious about working one-up for security reasons. Also they are 24-7 in a country town.”

He said officers from Murtoa and Warracknabeal were servicing Minyip but it was the preference of all small communities to have their own officer.

Mr Delahunty said the government had filled one-officer stations at Jeparit and Apsley.

Member for Swan Hill Peter Walsh referred questions to Police Minister Kim Wells’ office, which has not yet responded.