Page 4705 - Week 14 - Thursday, 24 November 2005

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(3) Does the Government see the recommendations as unnecessary; if so, why; if not, why not;

(4) Have any arrangements been made to upgrade the surveillance system at the city watch-house in the future; if so, what are the details of these arrangements and the expected cost.

Mr Hargreaves: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:

(1) The ACT Ombudsman has raised this matter for discussion approximately six times since 1997/98.

(2) Action has been taken. ACT Policing has a limited capital works budget and has therefore been unable to fund the Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras from within budget. A variety of funding proposals were put forward to finance the upgrade as part of the New Construction Proposals, Capital Works Program 2005-06. On 5 August 2005, the request for funding was considered by the Department of Justice and Community Safety Finance Committee and funds were approved from within the Justice and Community Safety Departmental Capital Upgrade Funding 2005-06 program.

(3) No, the government does not see the recommendations as unnecessary. The ACT Ombudsman has been critical of the standard of existing CCTV coverage at the Watch House and has made recommendations for its replacement. These recommendations have been accepted by the government. The government accepts the need to upgrade the facility and has provided funding for the work to occur. The process is well underway.

(4) Arrangements have been made to upgrade the CCTV system. ACT Policing has completed the project scope and technical specifications phase and is currently preparing a tender to go to market. ACT Policing is working towards having CCTV installed by June 2006.

The proposal involves a one-off capital allocation of $250,000 to replace the existing asset. Depreciation has been estimated using a straight line projection at $25,000 per annum over ten years. The ten year period represents an estimate of the useful life of the upgraded CCTV system. Recurrent cost of operation would involve annual maintenance charges, which have been estimated at $5,000 per annum.

Crime prevention—funding
(Question No 721)

Mr Pratt asked the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, upon notice, on 20 October 2005:

(1) During the financial years (a) 2003-04 and (b) 2004-05 was any funding that was initially appropriated for crime prevention diverted into funding for new police officers or other areas;

(2) If such funding was diverted away from crime prevention, how much was diverted and where has it been diverted to;


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