Big Brother school fail
Government accused of lack of action on CCTV
GOLD Coast schools facing a wave of vandalism and drug use are not getting any CCTV back-up despite requests put in two years ago to the State Government.
A Bulletin report in 2015 said ten schools in the Gaven electorate, 12 in the neighbouring northern Coast seat of Albert and three in Mudgeeraba put in requests for extra security.
Vandalism since 2013 had left a repair bill of $600,000 and 475 attacks had occurred at Coast campuses with many related to the drug trade. At an Estimates hearing this week, Albert MP Mark Boothman referred Education Minister Kate Jones to her response, at the time, to the Bulletin.
Ms Jones said all principals were looking at security at their school and “there is funding available for security cameras and other security measures where principals feel they need to toughenup”.
Mr Boothman asked Education director-general corporate services Jeff Hunt how many schools on the Coast had CCTV systems rolled out to their grounds and offices.
Mr Hunt said the Department had a $9 million budget to address security issues and 65 state schools were requesting CCTV. “We have done six schools in the last 12 months with CCTV installations,” Mr Hunt said.
Mr Boothman told Estimates: “There was a lot greater need than just six schools.
“I know my school communities are very keen to have them to protect their assets from vandalism and to know exactly what is going on at the front of their schools.”
Mr Hunt said the Department was working with principals to determine solutions.
“CCTV is not always the first option. We work with the schools around the issues that they might have been experiencing,” he said.
“That might be upgraded alarm systems, security fencing, increased government patrols or CCTV installations.”
Mr Hunt said he could not say where cameras had been installed because it would lead to schools being targeted.
But Mr Boothman, outside the Parliament, said none of the schools in the north of the Coast had received new CCTV systems and it could be more than a decade before the equipment arrived.
“This gives new definition to slow motion, or should I say a slow motion Minister. One would have thought as this was a promise for our children’s safety the Minister would work a little faster to implement these measures,” he said.
Gaven MP Sid Cramp, who also lobbied for the CCTV, said the cameras were a “critically important safety requirement” for students and schools.
“A number of schools in Gaven have requested this equipment, however our local schools have been left wanting,” he said. Schools which put in requests included Pacific Pines High after a wild brawl outside the gates, and Robina High where sources suggest ice addicts have been scoring drugs nearby.