Page 4964 - Week 16 - Tuesday, 26 November 1991
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members of the house that Crime Prevention Week will continue next year. It will probably be somewhat more extensive than in previous years because of the national movement towards crime prevention strategies.
MRS NOLAN (10.08): I must say that I am rather delighted to hear Mr Connolly say that he probably has been able to do what Mr Stefaniak set out to achieve in his amendment. That is not too bad at all. We are now hearing that the police shopfront services are to continue and that the crime prevention program will go ahead. I am sure that many in the community, especially those in the outer areas of Tuggeranong and Belconnen, will be particularly pleased about those shopfront services. I think that visible police presence is very important, and the shopfronts play a crucial role in ensuring that presence.
I want to refer very briefly to the Estimates Committee report and the response the Government gave in relation to this area. It is difficult for us to make any inroads into the Government's budget. We have certainly articulated long and hard in relation to the non-government schools issue, the tourism issue, the health issue - the list goes on. Police funding is yet another one.
I would be the first to say to Mr Connolly, "Congratulations; you were able to get more funding from the Commonwealth Government in relation to those extra positions"; but I do not think they have gone far enough. I think more positions should be paid for by the Commonwealth. We saw today the number of police involved in the Aidex exhibition. As Mr Stefaniak mentioned, we are talking about some 350 police officers out there today. That really does not leave too many available for the other things that are likely to occur in the Territory, or for people to go off duty, et cetera.
My concern relates to the Government's response to the Estimates Committee recommendations. Recommendation 15 suggests:
the ACT Government ensure that the proposed $1.2m funding reduction [in the ACT police budget] is in accordance with the agreement with the Commonwealth.
The response was:
The 1991-92 allocation for policing in the ACT does not contravene the terms ...
Recommendation 16 states:
if a budget reduction is to be put into effect, the Government negotiate to ensure that community policing is not materially affected.
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