Page 534 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 17 February 2016
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students of the implications of being caught participating in illegal graffiti. This education with young Canberrans is important.
The ACT government recognises that minimising the impact of graffiti is important to maintaining the amenity of commercial and residential neighbourhoods. In addition to preventative and removal methods, TAMS is working closely—and successfully, I might add—with ACT Policing to identify and prosecute graffiti offenders. TAMS is also actively participating in the restorative justice process to address graffiti vandalism committed by young offenders, which has resulted in positive outcomes for both the offenders and TAMS and subsequently for our community.
I would like to finish by saying that the government is committed to addressing suburban graffiti vandalism on public and private assets as evidenced by the strategies I have just outlined. We expect that over the next months and years, with the implementation of preventative measures and removal programs, including volunteer groups assisting with graffiti removal on private assets and our education programs, illegal graffiti will be significantly reduced, which will improve the look and feel of our city.
Let me go to some of Mrs Jones’s comments. We do live in a safe city. We do not live in New York city of the 1980s, with the broken windows approach by the mayor at the time there, Mayor Guiliani, although successful. It is a vast stretch to compare the Canberra of 2016 to New York city of the 1980s—a vast stretch. I hope that Mrs Jones can agree to the amendments today, which outline the significant work the government is undertaking to prevent graffiti, work with people to prevent graffiti vandalism, and encourage our street art community.
I move:
Omit all words after “notes that”, substitute:
“(a) the ACT Government recognises the concerns of members of the community about nuisance graffiti;
(b) the ACT Government recently appointed a Graffiti Coordinator who will liaise with artists, students, business, property owners and the broader community on how graffiti is managed;
(c) street artists make a valuable contribution to the Canberra community and acknowledges their work in creating a vibrant community;
(d) the ACT has 23 legal street art sites across the ACT which support street artists;
(e) illegal graffiti is a serious matter and attracts a $1000 fine for individuals caught;
(f) the ACT Government invests over $500 000 a year to remove graffiti from property in the ACT;
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