Hotline’s costly calls

THE NSW government has defended its deradicalisation hotline after it was revealed the multimillion-dollar number has received only five calls since June.

The Step Together hotline was designed to reach people at risk of radicalisation and violent extremism.

Despite the few calls, Minister for Counter-Terrorism David Elliott said it’s worth the $3.9 million price-tag.

“We only need one successful phone call,” he said.