House debates Questions without Notice

Safer Communities Fund

Monday, 15 February 2021 House of Representatives

Brian Mitchell

Brian Mitchell Lyons, Australian Labor Party

2:52 pm

My question is to the Minister for Home Affairs. Why did the minister announce two Safer Communities Fund grants during the Braddon by-election before grant guidelines were written, before grant applications were written and before his department had provided him with advice, which was that the projects were both unsuitable and ineligible?

Peter Dutton

Peter Dutton Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Home Affairs

I thank the honourable member for his question. I want to quote the Waratah-Wynyard mayor, Robby Walsh, who said with regard to funding for the CCTV cameras:

I think it's a great, positive move that will assist with both Somerset and Wynyard in curtailing vandalism and detect incidents.

Why have we provided funding to local communities? Because we want to keep people safe. The decisions have been made in relation to these grants—

Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Mr Hill interjecting—

Tony Smith

Tony Smith Speaker

The minister will pause. The member for Bruce will leave under 94(a). The minister's concluded his answer.