Canberra’s CBD Safety Operation Sparks Political Debate Over Future of Civic
In just 17 days, a saturation of ACT Policing officers in Canberra’s CBD has resulted in 23 people arrested, 9 court summonses issued and 12 criminal infringements handed out.
The safety and vibrancy of Canberra’s city centre continue to be sore points between political parties. Photo: Claire Fenwicke.
Among the arrests were three alleged robbers. Other alleged offences include breach of bail and possession of a weapon.
The criminal infringement notices were mostly for consuming alcohol in a public place. Twenty-nine exclusion orders have also been issued.
“Fifty-seven people have had alcohol removed from their possession, and all were cautioned and reminded about the rules regarding alcohol consumption in the CBD area,” an ACT Policing spokesperson said.
It’s all part of the current CBD Safe operation, deploying high-visibility patrols in the City during peak times to address antisocial and criminal behaviour.
Operation CBD Safe: Results and Community Engagement
Now, Liberal Senate candidate Nick Tyrrell has called for their presence to be made permanent, as part of his three‑point plan to revive the CBD.
“Civic is the beating heart of the national capital, and right now it’s flat‑lining,” he said.
“Empty offices, boarded‑up windows and streets that feel unsafe after dark: that is what a quarter of a century of Labor has delivered to the heart of our city.”
“The good news is the cure isn’t complicated. Safe streets are busy streets. Bring people back to live in the city, and you bring the city back to life.”
Antisocial behaviour has been identified as a real problem in Canberra’s CBD.
An audit tracking the issue found “entrenched pockets” of public drinking, abuse and intimidation are now concentrated around the Petrie Plaza merry‑go‑round and nearby City Walk.
Mr Tyrrell argued initiatives like CBD Safe shouldn’t happen each time “things get bad enough to make the news”.
“A few weeks of patrols won’t fix a problem years in the making,” a media release stated.
Mr Tyrrell’s also called for a moratorium on the Lease Variation Charge for residential conversions in the CBD and has accused Federal Labor policy of resulting in a public service “exodus” from Civic.
“Federal Labor is forcing workers out of Civic, and the Territory Labor government is standing in the way of turning the empty buildings they leave behind into homes,” he said.
“It’s time to revive our CBD. To bring back the people, the trade and the life, and give the national capital a city centre we can be proud of.”
ACT Policing officers have also been holding Cop Pop Ups at the Canberra Centre as part of Operation CBD Safe to talk with the community about safety and crime prevention, and to listen to people’s concerns. Photo: Facebook/Canberra Centre.
Government Responses to the Critique
Both levels of government rejected Mr Tyrrell’s statements.
ACT Labor Senator Katy Gallagher, who was personally called out in Mr Tyrrell’s media release, said she wasn’t “going to be lectured” by the Liberals.
“I do find it a bit rich coming from a party that would have decimated every town centre, not just Civic,” she said.
“The policies they took to the last election was to sack 40,000 public servants from Canberra. That would have not only ended Civic, but it would also have ended places like … Tuggeranong, Gungahlin, and the city in general.”
She also rejected the notion that the Commonwealth was moving all its public servants out of the CBD.
“If you look at the facts, of which he didn’t have, you’ll see that we are taking out increased property, leasing in and around Civic, because we are rebuilding the public service, and that is the engine room of our economy in the ACT,” Ms Gallagher said.
“We’ve rebuilt it and we will protect it against the Liberal Party who, every single time – and they’ve already this term said they’re going to abolish all the climate change and environment departments – they’re already saying they’re going to sack Canberra‑based public servants.”
“So I’m not going to be lectured by him.”
Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the government had a focus on infrastructure and city renewal projects to attract investment, create jobs and grow economic activity.
This includes establishing the City Renewal Authority in 2017, the light rail, Raising London Circuit and Acton Waterfront projects, and plans to revitalise City Hill.
The ACT Government has also been investigating how to re‑use Civic’s buildings, including converting some into housing.
“But adaptive re‑use is broader than office‑to‑apartment conversions. It can include student accommodation, hotels, education facilities, innovation space and other mixed‑use development,” he said.
“Our long‑term strategy is to increase the residential population of Civic. More residents mean more customers for local businesses, stronger hospitality and retail activity, and a city centre that is active seven days a week.”
“The future of Civic is a mixed‑use city where people live, study, work and invest.”
Planning Constraints and Future Outlook
Region asked how the National Capital Authority’s RL617 height limit was restricting CBD development, if at all.
Mr Barr said Canberra’s vistas, open landscapes and prominence of Parliament House were part of what made Canberra unique, and those values should be respected.
“At the same time, Canberra is a growing city. We need more housing, more investment and more economic activity in the city centre,” he said.
“Our approach is practical. We work constructively with the Commonwealth and the National Capital Authority to support growth where it makes sense while protecting the features that make Canberra special.”
“This is not a choice between growth and character. A successful national capital should be able to do both.”
“That is exactly the outcome we are working towards.”
The CBD Safe operation doesn’t have an end date at this time.
Businesses and members of the public are encouraged to report incidents in the CBD to police, either by speaking to a patrol, attending City Police Station, or by calling 131 444.
If you see someone you suspect is shoplifting, consider your personal safety before confronting anyone. Incidents can be reported to staff or centre security, or to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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