Presented by Robert Clark MP		www.robertclark.net

Government and Whitehorse Council must do more on graffiti

News Release - 10 August 2006

The Member for Box Hill, Robert Clark, has called on the State Government and Whitehorse Council to do more to tackle the problem of graffiti.

Mr Clark has raised in Parliament the growing problem of graffiti across suburbs in the Box Hill electorate.

He called on the State government to establish a statewide graffiti hotline, to restrict the availability of spray paint cans, and to ensure government authorities promptly remove graffiti from their property as part of their maintenance programs.

"Graffiti is not only unsightly and distressing itself, but if left unchecked it degrades the neighbourhood and invites further crime," Mr Clark said.

"Rapid and comprehensive cleanup is almost universally regarded as a key element of deterring graffiti.

"Graffiti vandals also need to know that those caught graffitiing will be subject to serious and appropriate punishment, including being required to help clean up the graffiti that they and others have caused.

"Local police working out of Camberwell, Box Hill and Boroondara police stations have done very good work in difficult circumstances to fight graffiti, but they are hampered by limited powers and the huge amounts of police time required to catch graffiti vandals in the act."

"I ask the Premier in particular to ensure that government authorities and franchisees take responsibility for promptly removing graffiti as part of their maintenance programs, that a state-wide graffiti reporting hotline be established to link directly to councils' and other bodies' cleanup programs, and that children be taught about the anti-social nature of graffiti through a re-instated Police in Schools or other program."

In terms of helping ratepayers, Mr Clark said that Whitehorse Council had simply been providing free paint, cleanup kits and leaflets to residents. He urged Whitehorse Council to look the example of the City of Casey.

"The City of Casey have shown what can be done with determined and co-ordinated action against graffiti. Casey Council's contractors actually clean graffiti off ratepayers' property as well as council property. Casey claim their program has been so successful it costs council no more now to clean ratepayer property than it used to cost to clean council property only.

"Casey also have widely advertised 24 hour graffiti reporting hotline, and have had in force for some time a local law banning the sale of spray paint cans to under 18 year olds and restricting their accessibility in shops."

Mr Clark also pointed to the example of Boroondara Council.

"Boroondara Council has adopted an anti-graffiti strategy which involves a zero tolerance approach to graffiti on council owned property, free paint or removal kits for private property, a graffiti hotline, and a tag and graffiti recording register.

"They are also installing surveillance cameras in high incidence areas and entering and funding cleanup arrangements with trader associations.

"In the absence of state government action, Boroondara Council has also developed a local law to restrict the sale of spray paint cans to minors and require that spray cans in shops must be kept in areas not immediately accessible to the public."

However, Mr Clark said that state-wide laws restricting spray can availability would be far better than a series of local laws passed by individual councils.