Justine Keay (Braddon, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am deeply concerned that the government have failed to keep another of their promises to the Braddon electorate. During the 2016 federal election campaign, the former member for Braddon, Brett Whiteley, promised $74,777 through the Safer Communities Fund to Burnie City Council for CCTV cameras and infrastructure along the North Terrace boardwalk and in Wilson Street. But now that the election is over, the government have backflipped and are asking the Burnie City Council to jump through hoops to get this funding through an application process that has not even opened yet. Even if the council is successful in its application, the government say funding will be subject to budget processes, so we cannot even be sure the council will get the full amount promised.

I agree with what Mr Whiteley and Burnie Mayor Anita Dow said at the time, that residents and tourist flock to the boardwalk during summer and these cameras are needed to improve safety. But these cameras will not be in place this summer and probably not the summer next year or any year after for that matter. It is disappointing to see the government apparently breaking its promise of important community safety funding. It is just another example of a government failing to stand by its commitments to my electorate. The promise should be kept and I call on the minister to make sure it is.