Neighbourhood Watch crippled under Palaszczuk

Thursday, 8th March 2018

Community crime-fighting on the Sunshine Coast will be crippled by the Palaszczuk government’s massive 85 per cent cut in funding for Neighbourhood Watch (NHW).

Member for Kawana, Jarrod Bleijie, received a letter yesterday from a Sunshine Coast representative of the NHW Community Advisory Committee, who expressed extreme concern that the Palaszczuk Government was slashing funding for Queensland’s 400 NHW groups from $500,000 a year to just $75,000.

The letter – tabled in Parliament by the LNP today – highlighted the role NHW plays in the Sunshine Coast community which is now at significant risk thanks to the Palaszczuk government’s savage cuts.

As a vocal supporter of NHW in Queensland, Jarrod Bleijie said he was shocked and appalled that the Palaszczuk government was targeting these volunteers who provide an invaluable contribution to keeping our local communities safe.

“Under this Labor government, crime has significantly increased on the Sunshine Coast and now they are effectively targeting the very people in our community who play a major role in crime prevention and detection,” Mr Bleijie said.

“NHW volunteers are a vital link between police and communities.

“These wonderful community-minded residents volunteer their time to make our community a safer place – we should be doing all we can to boost involvement in our local NHW groups, not destroying them.

“With NHW celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, it’s critical that the Palaszczuk government reverse their unfair funding cuts to ensure the great work of our Sunshine Coast based NHW groups can continue now and into the future,” he said.