CCTV cameras promised for Maitland and Rutherford shopping precincts last year have still not eventuated.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Labor Hunter MP Joel Fitzgibbon promised the cameras last year with money from the National Crime Prevention Fund.
But the money was frozen, as required, before the federal election before the camera funding was officially approved.
When the Coalition government came into power, it scrapped the NCPF and created the $50 million Safer Streets Program, but still there are no cameras.
Mr Fitzgibbon has welcomed an Auditor General’s investigation into the program.
A spokeswoman for Justice Minister Michael Keenan said it was normal practice for the Auditor General to look into government initiatives.
“The Coalition government made commitments in the lead-up to the election to improve community safety and we are delivering on those commitments,” she said.
“The Attorney General’s Department is working with the Auditor General regarding the roll-out of the program and that is part of normal process.”
But Mr Fitzgibbon said there were questions over eligibility criteria and selection process used to award funding and whether money spent as part of the program had been properly targeted at projects to prevent, detect and deter crime.
“This program was supposed to help keep communities safe from crime and keep at-risk young people on the straight and narrow, but it seems the Abbott government is more interested in maximising the Coalition’s political prospects,” he said. “I won’t rest until Maitland and Singleton councils’ funding is restored.”
The Mercury reported earlier this year that business owners in the Rutherford shopping precinct were having ongoing troubles with youths harassing staff and customers, graffitiing and behaving badly.
There was a widespread call for CCTV cameras to be installed in the area.
The first round of the Safer Streets Program funding is yet to be allocated.