Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the senator for the question. In issues such as this, the facts really matter. Let me share some of the facts with those opposite. This government is absolutely committed to making Australian communities safe places to live and to work. The Safer Communities Fund, provided to address crime and antisocial behaviour, helps communities to reduce violence and improve safety in local communities. Since 2016 the government has committed $180 million to this program. Let me put a few facts on the record in relation to round 3 of the Safer Communities Fund. A total of 465 applications, totalling over $58 million, were received, for funding for approximately $17 million. Of these 465 applications, the Department of Home Affairs recommended that 70 be approved. Each of these applications that the department recommended received funding. The department also reckoned that Minister Dutton could select 15 from a reserve list of 210. All 210 of those applications had been assessed as suitable for funding. In fact, to enable these to be funded, the minister himself reduced a number of grants to enable funding to a number in Labor seats. For example, Nick Champion, the member for Spence, funded six CCTVs under these savings. Catherine King, the member for Ballarat, also funded four fixed CCTVs. And the list goes on and on. In fact, the spending between Labor and coalition seats is almost identical.