Rebekha Sharkie (Mayo, Centre Alliance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, in writing, on 25 November 2019:

(1) Will the Government's Safer Communities Fund Round 5 provide community based organisations the opportunity to secure funding for Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) programs.

(2) Can a breakdown be provided, in tabular form, of the total Government expenditure on community based CVE programs for the years: (a) 2016-17; (b) 2017-18; and (c) 2018-19.

(3) Of the funds referred to in (2), what was the breakdown of total funds by category of violent extremism, such as far right and left extremism, or religious extremism.

Alan Tudge (Aston, Liberal Party, Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The answer to the honourable member's question is:

(1) The Safer Communities Fund does not provide funding specifically for Countering Violent Extremism Programs. The purpose of the Safer Communities Fund is to deliver safer communities, by boosting the efforts of identified local councils and community organisations to address crime and anti-social behaviour by funding crime prevention initiatives (such as fixed and mobile CCTV, lighting and youth early intervention projects), and protecting community organisations that may be facing security risks associated with racial or religious intolerance.

(2) Since 2013-14, the Government has invested over $53 million in CVE initiatives, including over $13.4 million in funding to CVE intervention programs. The Government funds a range of CVE programs in each state and territory, which include combatting terrorist propaganda online, promoting messages of social cohesion in the community and supporting projects that enhance cooperation and best practice CVE policy across all levels of government. These Government-funded CVE programs are not specifically community based programs.

(3) The Government's approach to violent extremism addresses all drivers of radicalisation to violence. CVE intervention programs include participants from a range of ideological backgrounds, and funding is not allocated based on 'categories' of violent extremism. People who are referred to these programs are assessed for their individual needs and appropriate support services provided to them.