Sharman Stone MP

 

A safe community is a happy community, and the Coalition realises that the best way to combat crime is to work together with all tiers of government and local community to have a combined effort to fight crime in local communities.

 

“Labor scrapped the $65 million National Community Crime Prevention Programme when it came into government replacing it with a mere $15 million program called “safer suburbs”. This hurt volunteer groups like our local Neighbourhood Watch who were then left to grapple with less funding to do the same job.

 

Dr Sharman Stone, Federal Member for Murray, said the Coalition funding will be particularly valuable in the Murray Electorate to provide a boost to the good work already done in the community to help prevent crime.

 

“Local crime is damaging to a community on a number of levels. It erodes the confidence of local people, can deter people from moving to Murray, and can also drive people to leave the area.

 

“Similarly it threatens house prices and discourages investment in the area.

 

“The Coalition’s $50 million in funding will help local government and community organisations make their own neighbourhoods more secure and restore the confidence that locals are living in a safe and happy environment.

 

“The funding will be put towards projects like the installation of closed circuit television systems, anti-hooning devices; increasing security controls, and given to local councils to combat graffiti and vandalism.

 

“The Coalition believes a bigger commitment is required to keep Murray as a safe and friendly place,” Sharman Stone said.