Media Release

Monday, 27 May 2002

CABRAMATTA SHOOTING SPARKS RENEWED CALL FOR CCTV FUNDING

Yesterday’s shooting incident where seven people were injured in a Cabramatta restaurant has lead to renewed calls for the Government to fund a key Cabramatta crime fighting initiative; close circuit television (CCTV).

The NSW government shared the capital cost of installing the CCTV cameras in 1996 but walked away from assisting with funding the ongoing running cost according to Fairfield Councillor Thang Ngo.

This forced Fairfield Council to be the sole funding body for the system which costs over $400,000 a year to run – a total investment of around $2 million since the start of the system.

Yet a recent independent review of the CCTV system concluded that the NSW Police service were the main beneficiary of the system, even though they do not contribute one cent to its running according to Cr Ngo.

"There are urgent Cabramatta town centre works not being done because the CCTV system has eaten a $2 million dollar hole in Council’s budget" said Cr Ngo.

Cr Ngo says that a similar CCTV system in Sydney’s CBD is monitored and funded by NSW Police.

"If the government is serious about the crime problem in Cabramatta, they should put their money where their mouth is and take over the CCTV system or at the very least help fund it" said Cr Ngo.

Cr Ngo has written to the Police Minister to again seek government contribution to the CCTV system.

Cr Ngo said his call has the overwhelming support of the local community.

"If need be, we will get petitions signed by thousands of local residents and present that in Parliament" said Cr Ngo.