???????????? ??????????????????: Safe Night Precinct Funding Cut Immediately

“The State Government’s budget has slashed funding for Safe Night Precincts* for the Police overtime shifts effective from 30 June.

“The funding of $2.5m provided police overtime shifts to patrol Safe Night Precincts on weekends and was much needed to bolster already stretched resources.

“We will feel it here on the Sunshine Coast as these additional Police Patrols have made a difference.

“This funding cut will see areas such as Ocean Street on the Sunshine Coast have more pressure put on the thin blue line to keep the public safe.

“This is a major error as these Police Officers are needed – the impact of this will be felt throughout Queensland.

“I want to see people kept safe.?Police cuts like this can’t be justified and it’s bad decision making by the State Government.

“Offences continue to rise and the loss of this service has the potential to blow-out police response times or see serious incidents occur.

“You can’t reduce the presence of Police Officers at a vulnerable time and not have the potential for an increase in crime and delays in responding.

“We need more police funding to match growth on the Sunshine Coast, but to remove dedicated funding from this service is wrong and makes no sense.

“This State Labor Government continues to fail to look after Queenslanders.

“I want to see this funding restored.?

“Queenslander’s deserve to feel safe when they go out at night.”

- ENDS -

*There are Safe Night Precincts on the Sunshine Coast, particularly Ocean Street in Maroochydore, as well as in Brisbane, Airlie Beach, the Gold Coast, Cairns, Bundaberg, Gladstone, Ipswich, Mackay, Toowoomba, Rockhampton and Townsville.