Media release – Greater Hobart Mayors, 14 March 2024

Call to support Safer Communities

The four Greater Hobart Mayors are advocating for further support for community safety measures in the final week of the state election campaign, proposing a series of initiatives targeting anti-social and criminal behavior.

The Mayors have written to all sides of politics calling on support for a $3.8 million Safer Communities package designed to fund tangible initiatives led by the Greater Hobart councils and Tasmania Police. The package comprises:

  • $1 million to expand Greater Hobart’s CCTV network to additional sites and provide direct streams from cCouncils to Tasmania Police, strengthening the capacity of authorities to quickly respond to local crime and anti-social behaviour;
  • $1 million to support councils to respond to vandalism targeting Greater Hobart businesses and other local entities;
  • $1 million to strengthen council-led youth programs to support and engage young people;
  • $500,000 to trial specialised police liaison officers to support migrant and culturally diverse communities across Greater Hobart; and
  • $300,000 to support public education campaigns that promote awareness and action against racism in the community.

Quotes to be attributed to Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds:

“As Mayors we have all been very concerned by ongoing criminal and anti-social behaviour across Greater Hobart, including incidents impacting the South Asian community. We want to see more tailored support for our diverse communities while also ensuring appropriate infrastructure and programs are in place to deter and respond to local crime.

Hobart prides itself on being an inclusive and diverse city – it’s important we back that up with support for communities that have been unfairly targeted by this behaviour. We often underestimate the importance and power of public education campaigns to help change behaviour, so supporting these efforts is crucial.

Quotes to be attributed to Clarence Mayor Brendan Blomeley:

“All residents have an inherent right to feel safe in our community. Cleary this premise has been challenged in recent years and there is an obligation for the government and relevant authorities to do more. As Mayors we want to ensure Tasmania Police and our councils have the tools at their disposal to combat criminal activity and anti-social behaviour. A lack of resources simply doesn’t stack up as an excuse and won’t be tolerated by the community.”

Quotes to be attributed to Glenorchy Mayor Bec Thomas:

“Residents and businesses are understandably fed up with the actions of a small minority that continue to make others feel unsafe. There are a number of immediate measures that will help councils and authorities to better manage this behaviour – like improved CCTV networks and mitigation against vandalism – while also supporting longer-term youth programs that facilitate positive opportunities for at-risk young people.

We acknowledge the commitments made to date in the election campaign, however the fact is more needs to be done to support practical on-the-ground initiatives led by councils and Tasmania Police.”

Quotes to be attributed to Kingborough Mayor Paula Wriedt:

“Addressing anti-social behaviour is a shared challenge for the Greater Hobart councils and we need to be doing more to create a safer environment across the region. Criminal and anti-social behaviour has such a negative impact on those effected and left unchecked it can erode the fabric of the entire community.

We’re calling on all parties and candidates to support the Safer Communities package to ensure we have tangible measures in place to support our communities, while maintaining Greater Hobart’s status a liveable and inclusive region.”

Brendan Blomeley is the Mayor of Clarence City Council, Bec Thomas is the Mayor of Glenorchy City Council, Anna Reynolds is the Lord Mayor of the City of Hobart and Paula Wriedt is the Mayor of Kingborough Council.