- The Crisafulli Government is delivering 42 critical safety upgrade projects at small and family businesses across Queensland to prevent crime before it happens.
- The first round of the Secure Communities Partnership Program is delivering $9.6 million for projects across Queensland such as CCTV, alarm systems, and security lighting to protect businesses from crime.
- The Crisafulli Government is delivering safety where you live, after Labor's decade of decline caused local businesses to close due to skyrocketing insurance premiums.
The Crisafulli Government is making Queensland safer and preventing crime before it happens, by delivering 42 critical crime prevention projects for small and family businesses across Queensland.
The 42 projects - which includes 35 in regional Queensland - are being delivered through a $9.6 million investment from the Secure Communities Partnerships Program to upgrade security and deter crime, improving safety throughout local business precincts, including CCTV, bollards, lockable fencing and improved perimeter security.
Thirty-two of the projects received funding for surveillance and alarm systems, 8 for physical infrastructure upgrades like enhanced lighting, and 2 for improved perimeter security.
Labor's soft-on-crime approach during their decade of decline caused small and family business insurance rates to skyrocket by 79.6 per cent, which made it unaffordable for many Queensland mum-and-dad businesses to continue operating.
Round 2 will be launched before the end of the year and allow eligible small businesses to apply directly for funding to implement crime prevention measures.
The Crisafulli Government's three-year $40 million Secure Communities Partnership Program funds critical measures to deter crime before it happens, protects small and family business from economic loss, and forms part of the Crisafulli Government's Small and Family Business First Action Statement which is backed by over $100 million in new investment to improve the operating environment for business.
Premier David Crisafulli said the Government was preventing crime to restore safety where you live.
"We are making Queensland safer by stopping crime before it happens with bolstered security for small and family businesses," Premier Crisafulli said.
"Small and family businesses are the backbone of Queensland, and this is about giving them the safety and security they deserve to protect their livelihoods as well as their staff.
"While victim numbers are down across Queensland, there is still plenty more work to be done, and we will continue to deliver a fresh start as we restore community safety across the State."
Minister for Small and Family Business Steve Minnikin highlighted the importance of the program in supporting Queensland's small business community.
"Small businesses underpin our economy, and we're proud to support them in return," Minister Minnikin said.
"For a small business owner, the cost of crime against their business cannot be understated.
"Through the $40 million Secure Communities Partnership Program, we are working directly with councils, chambers of commerce and small businesses across Queensland to deliver practical, on the ground solutions that deter crime and create safer, more welcoming business areas.
"This funding is about making sure that we are safeguarding the livelihoods of small and family business owners so they can keep doing what they do best."
Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said new cameras would join the existing CitySafe network of more than 3800 cameras, which deter crime and support timely police responses.
"Brisbane is Australia's lifestyle capital and we are proud to work with the Crisafulli Government to keep it that way," Cr Schrinner said.
"Every dollar small businesses spend cleaning up after crime hurts their bottom line and these new cameras will help us deter crime so businesses can focus on delivering great services to the community.
"Our Council will always stand up for Brisbane on crime so we can continue to be a great place to live, work and relax."
