Page 1545 - Week 05 - Thursday, 13 May 2021

Public housing—Strong Connected Neighbourhoods program
(Question No 197)

Mrs Kikkert asked the Attorney-General, upon notice, on 23 April 2021:

(1) How much is being funded to the Building Strong Connected Neighbourhoods for this financial year.

(2) Is there any funding for this program for the next three financial years.

(3) What changes will be made to the program following the independent evaluations done on this program in 2018.

(4) Which communities in Canberra will be receiving this funding.

(5) Were evaluations conducted on any of the other public housing sites; if so, can the Minister provide these evaluation report.

(6) Are there any ongoing Building Strong Connected Neighbourhood programs besides the ones in Braddon, Reid and Belconnen.

(7) Have any of the programs in Braddon, Reid or Belconnen ceased.

Mr Rattenbury: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:

(1) The funding for Building Strong Connected Neighbourhoods for this financial year 2020-21 is $515,000.

(2) Funding for the program is as follows:

(3) The 2018 evaluation of the program by the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC),¹ reported that the program met its objectives by:

o reducing violent crime by 50 per cent

o reducing property crime by 60 per cent

o reducing disturbance incidents by 49 per cent

o increasing levels of social cohesion among residents at public housing sites across Ainslie Avenue, and

o providing a realised saving to government (of police time alone) through reduced crimes of at least $0.42 to $0.51 for every $1 invested.

These results supported the expansion of the program and Reclink are engaged to run the program until June 2022.