My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Crime Prevention. The action I seek is that the minister provide an update on the outcomes of the graffiti prevention grant of $18 000 given to Boroondara City Council for the refurbishment and installation of two murals on each side of the rebound wall in Grace Park in my electorate of Hawthorn. These are the second and third murals being delivered in Hawthorn, with the first mural, near Auburn station, having been completed in May 2019, which has improved the amenity around Auburn station.
Since 2015 the government has partnered with councils and local communities by providing nearly $2.2 million in funding to support 111 graffiti prevention grant projects. Through the Working for Victoria Fund, many local councils have also been funded to clean and maintain community areas and buildings, helping to remove graffiti. To help local government take action the government has also provided $69 000 towards the development of the Victorian graffiti register, through which Victorians can now easily report graffiti through a website and app. It will also enable councils to identify specific problem taggers or identify graffiti hotspots and report them to Victoria Police for further investigation.
The register was introduced to councils in September 2020. There are already eight councils using the program, including my local council of Boroondara, with many others engaging with the provider and Graffiti Interest Network members. The government has also given communities more opportunities to remove graffiti through the community safety infrastructure grants, which have helped to upgrade safety in common areas. Some of the projects funded include graffiti-prevention work as well as better lighting, CCTV and other preventative measures to stop graffiti before it occurs. I look forward to the minister’s update on how the new murals at Grace Park will make a difference in helping to deter graffiti and other antisocial behaviour.
May 16, 2022 - Parliament
I discussed my concerns about some of the grubby politics that our local Liberal Parliamentarians have engaged in over the course of the Federal Campaign in this weeks Members Statement.
April 14, 2022 - Parliament
I was going to begin with a text for today, but I really cannot let the member for Gembrook get too far away there. I just want to talk about elephants briefly—it is the concept of the elephant in the room. When I hear this...
April 4, 2022 - Parliament
Watch my speech on the Gambling and Liquor Legislation Amendment Bill below.
March 18, 2022 - Parliament
As a former officer in the RAAF, I was especially delighted to be given the honour of representing the government at the 80th anniversary of the bombing of Darwin. It was a timely reminder that many Australians have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our...
March 7, 2022 - Parliament
November 29, 2021 - Parliament
Adapted from John Kennedy’s Speech to the Legislative Assembly on 17 November 2021 The Attorney-General’s question and answer document states: ‘We will better balance the right to equality with the right to religious freedom, ensuring protection and promotion of both rights.’ There are colleagues better...
November 1, 2021 - Parliament
Last week, the Public Health and Wellbeing (Pandemic Management) Bill 2021 passed in the Assembly after being the source of both public and parliamentary debate. Personally, I think you would be hard pressed to find a better contribution about both the bill and the nature...
October 18, 2021 - Parliament
Mr KENNEDY (Hawthorn) (13:39): During 2019—near the end of 2019—the Minister for Education invited me to a busman’s holiday, and basically the busman’s holiday was to chair the reference group in respect of the review into vocational and applied learning pathways in senior secondary schooling....
August 6, 2021 - News, Parliament
Member’s Statement, given on the 5th of July, 2021. This week is Homelessness Week. I find it astonishing that in an affluent country such as ours over 116 000 people experience homelessness on any given night. Research has shown that secure and affordable housing is...
August 3, 2021 - Parliament
My question is for the Minister for Education and is regarding the proposed VCAL reforms. The integration of VCAL into the VCE follows a review by former Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority CEO John Firth. I was pleased to chair the expert reference group for...