Federal Member for Blaxland, Jason Clare MP said today he is appalled by the Abbott Government’s decision to prohibit Bankstown City Council from applying for funding under Round One of the Safer Streets Programme.
Under the previous Labor Government $477,800 was allocated from the National Crime Prevention Fund to install new CCTV and pan–tilt–zoom cameras and to upgrade existing lighting across the Bankstown council area.
Bankstown City Council was identified as a priority area for this funding by the Federal Attorney General’s Department due to the high level of crime in the Bankstown Local Government Area.
This has now been cancelled by the Abbott Government.
The Attorney General’s Department has now advised Bankstown City Council that it is not even allowed to apply for funding for CCTV under Round One of their Safer Streets Programme as this money will go to projects in Liberal marginal seats.
“Recent local events have shown how important CCTV is in solving crime,” Mr Clare said.
“Tony Abbott should allocate CCTV where it is needed not just where people voted for him. This just proves again, Tony Abbott doesn’t care about our community and can’t be trusted.”
Bankstown City Council Mayor Councillor Khal Asfour has said he believes Bankstown is being singled out and not given an opportunity to apply for vital funding for CCTV cameras.
“I call on the Government to rethink this decision and at least give us a chance to apply,” Mr Asfour said.
“Grants are in place to help our communities, not hinder them. All we are seeking is fair not favourable treatment.”
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