THE HON MARK DREYFUS QC MP
SHADOW ATTORNEY-GENERAL
SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE ARTS
MEMBER FOR ISAACS
DAVID FEENEY MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR JUSTICE
MEMBER FOR BATMAN
MEDIA RELEASE
LABOR WELCOMES THE SECURE SCHOOLS PROGRAM- BUT LETS NOT FORGET WHERE IT STARTED
Labor welcomes the announcement of the continuation of funding for the Secure Schools Program to aid in a safe and welcoming environment for school communities.
The Secure Schools Program provides funding designed to help meet the security needs of schools and pre-schools at risk of racial, religious or ethnically motivated violence.
The continuation of the programme announced today by the Justice Minister, Michael Keenan, will provide non-recurrent funding for security infrastructure, and for the cost of employing security guards for 54 schools.
In 2007, the former Labor Government funded over 100 projects to strengthen security at more than 70 schools.
Under the former Labor Government, the Secure Schools Program committed $35 million to assist at-risk government and non-government schools to install security infrastructure such as CCTV systems, fencing, lighting and anti-ramming devices.
Further provisions under the former Labor Government for the Secure Schools Program included a change to the eligibility criteria to enable funding for the provision of security guards.
David Feeney, Shadow Minister for Justice said;
The program under the former Labor Government funded a total of 126 projects at 76 schools and preschools across Australia,
The Abbott Government's announcement today that they will continue funding under the Secure Schools Program is welcomed.
Labor will continue to support and advocate for the Secure Schools Program, we believe every school kid deserves to learn in a safe and welcoming environment, and in a safe community.
MONDAY, 2 MARCH 2015
