MINISTER for Justice Michael Keenan and Federal Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch today announced that grant applications for Round 2 of the Coalition Government’s Safer Streets Programme are now open.
Round 2 of the Safer Streets Programme will invest up to $29.4 million in individual grants for local government organisations and eligible incorporated not-for-profit organisations, community groups, and chambers of commerce to implement community safety and crime prevention initiatives across Australia.
Mr Entsch said investment in security infrastructure at local crime hotspots would reduce fear of crime and contribute to greater community safety and resilience across Leichhardt.
“Every member of the community deserves to feel safe all the time – whether it’s at work, travelling around town, or in their own home,” said Mr Entsch.
“The Safer Streets programme is already helping to reduce crime in Cairns, where Round 1 of the Programme helped the Council upgrade the existing CCTV technology, expand into suburban hot-spots, integrate the alarm system and relocate the control room to a more secure location.
“I encourage other councils around Far North Queensland to contact my office to discuss their projects, and find out more about how to make a submission,” he said.
Mr Keenan said local Members play a key role in working with their community to boost community safety and identifying where there is a need for increased security infrastructure.
“Our Government firmly believes that all Australians have the right to feel safe and secure, and the Safer Streets Programme is one way we can achieve that,” Mr Keenan said.
“More than $19-million in funding has already been awarded under Round 1 of the Programme for projects across 150 locations to deliver security enhancements such as better lighting and CCTV in retail, entertainment and commercial precincts.
“Importantly, the Safer Streets Programme uses proceeds of crime – confiscated from criminals – to fund these local crime prevention projects. This means the crimes of yesterday can help prevent the crimes of tomorrow.”
Further information on the Safer Streets Programme is available at www.ag.gov.au. To apply, visit https://www.ag.gov.au/CrimeAndCorruption/CrimePrevention/Pages/ProceedsofCrimeAct.aspx
Applications close 2pm on 17 February 2016.
