Federal funding of $3 million has been announced for a North Coast Crime Prevention Infrastructure Action Plan, which will see $1m go towards Tweed, Ballina, and Byron Shire councils for crime prevention measures.
Labor Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, made the announcement in Lennox Head last week.
Yet despite the tough-on-crime rhetoric, NSW Labor recently scrapped an Indigenous Crime Prevention Program, impacting around 100 local kids who were at risk of disengaging with their community.
Local police supported the program, saying intervention and diversion programs are key to building up young people’s confidence to divert them away from crime.
‘Community victory’
Describing the $3m as a ‘ big community victory’, local Labor MP Justine Elliot said, ‘This funding will allow local councils to deliver CCTV, lighting, bollards, fencing and landscaping to improve community safety and reduce crime risks, while enhancing the vibrancy and usability of shared community spaces’.
The Echo asked Mrs Elliot, ‘Why isn’t Labor also focused on crime prevention, rather than small, one-off funds?’
She replied, ‘I am a strong supporter of all programs aimed at reducing youth crime and I will continue to ask questions of the NSW government about the delivery of this specific program.’
Nationals candidate
Nationals candidate Kimberly Hone told The Echo, ‘As someone with a background in youth and social work, I acknowledge the link between crime prevention and youth engagement programs’.
‘It is deeply disappointing that Labor scrapped the Indigenous Crime Prevention Program without reason, leaving vulnerable communities without crucial resources.
‘Mrs Elliot has been in office for over 20 years, and has done nothing to address this crisis. She claims to be a former police officer, yet under her watch, crime has worsened, and Indigenous communities have been ignored. Now, just before an election, she suddenly announces $3 million for crime prevention – but why wait? If Labor truly cared, they could act now instead of making empty promises.
‘I am committed to real action. I will fund CCTV cameras and other crime prevention strategies in Tweed, Murwillumbah, Byron Bay, and Ballina.
‘More importantly, I will strengthen existing youth diversion programs including cultural programs which have struggled under Labor’s cuts.
‘Since the defeat of the Voice referendum, the Albanese government has abandoned Indigenous disadvantage as a priority. I will continue to fight for real, measurable change’.
Greens candidate
Greens candidate, Mandy Nolan, told The Echo, ‘Keeping our communities safe means real investments in diversionary and educational programs that prevent at-risk youth committing crime and ending up in jail. And we know these programs work’.
She adds that she’s been attending community crime meetings over the summer.
‘Rather than scrapping local crime prevention programs, we need to be boosting them. Everybody knows prevention is better than a cure.’
‘I’ve talked to so many teachers, police, parents and social workers, and what this community wants is policies that address the causes of crime, and programs that prevent it.
‘It’s great that this region is getting the national attention it deserves, but I would have loved to have seen funding announced for programs targeting at-risk youth, like the one scrapped last year’.
Meanwhile, The Climate Justice Alliance of Northern Rivers (CJA) condemned the $3m pledge, calling it a ‘waste’. In a statement they said, ‘The Human Rights Watch’s World Report 2025 has criticised the treatment of children in the Australian criminal justice system, and last year’s youth crime report by Children’s Commissioner Anne Hollonds states, “We cannot ‘police’ our way out of this problem, and the evidence shows that locking up children does not make the community safer”.’
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