Attorney-General visits Beth Rivkah
The Attorney-General, Nicola Roxon, and Member for Melbourne Ports, Michael Danby, met with Jewish community leaders at Beth Rivkah College in Melbourne’s St Kilda East today to discuss school safety.
Michael Danby (left) and Nicola Roxon 4th from right
Beth Rivkah College has received over $1 million, since 2009, from the Federal Government’s Secure Schools program to upgrade security at the College
The Attorney-General said it was important that families, both parents and children, felt safe at school and that nothing had a higher priority in the community then the protection of children.
“I’m here today to discuss school safety issues with the local Jewish community and to reinforce how important the Secure Schools program is to the Federal Government,” Ms Roxon said.
“The Federal Government over the past four years invested $20 million to ensure schools received the security upgrades required and a further $15 million has be allocated over the next three years to make more schools safer.
“Since its inception the Federal Labor Government has provided approximately $12 million in funding to Jewish schools under the Secure Schools Program,” Ms Roxon said.
Mr Danby said it was important to the local Jewish community that the Attorney-General see firsthand the work that has been done with the Secure Schools funding and to meet with local Jewish leaders to discuss the importance of safe learning centres.
“Only last month I met with the Minister for Homeland Security, Jason Clare, and leaders of Melbourne’s Jewish Schools to discuss the Secure School Program.
“During that meeting the Federal Government announced a further $15 million in funding for the Program, ensuring our local pre-schools could also apply for funding under the Program.
The Secure Schools Program provides schools with capital funding to make physical safety improvements. This includes fences, gates, CCTV cameras, alarm and access control systems and bollards.
It is targeted program aimed at schools at risk of racial, religious or ethnically motivated violence, property crime or harassment.
Funding for the latest round of Secure Schools Program closed on 16 April. Applications are currently being assessed.
As far as I’m concerned, it’s shameful that such lengths need to be undertaken to protect any child in this country.