Ballina’s $1m CCTV grant caught up in Labor ‘rorts’ row
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Ballina Shire’s $1 million CCTV network has become caught up in a growing political row over Federal Government grants targeted at Labor-held and marginal electorates.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese personally announced the Ballina funding during a visit to Lennox Head in February last year, ahead of the 2025 federal election.
Installation of the new network is now underway, but the invitation-only $20 million program used to fund it has come under fire from the Federal Opposition.
The Sydney Morning Herald today revealed 17 of the 20 projects funded under the Strengthening Community Safety program benefited seats Labor held before the May 2025 election.
Richmond, which includes Ballina Shire, was among a group of electorates receiving money for CCTV, lighting and other security measures.
Other grants went into Coalition-held seats including Dickson, Petrie, Leichhardt, Deakin and Menzies. Labor went on to win all five at the election.
Opposition assistant infrastructure spokesman Ben Small accused Labor of targeting the money politically.
“Unbelievably, crime only seems to be a problem in Labor-held seats,” he told the Herald.
“Nothing in these numbers passes the pub test.”
Ballina promised $1 million
Mr Albanese visited Lennox Head on February 7, 2025, when Richmond MP Justine Elliot announced a re-elected Labor Government would provide $1 million each to Ballina, Byron and Tweed councils for community safety measures.
The Ballina funding was subsequently delivered through the Strengthening Community Safety – Election Commitment Funding program.
It was not an open competitive grants round. Ballina Shire Council was invited to apply for the money after the election.
Council has since approved a network covering priority locations in Ballina and Lennox Head, including Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras at key entry points.
Preliminary works began late last month and the installation is now being rolled out.
The local funding controversy comes amid a much bigger fight over a separate $560 million Federal Government infrastructure grants program.
Almost three-quarters of that money reportedly went to Labor-held seats, while a $6 million grant to Marrickville Golf Club in Mr Albanese’s electorate has attracted particular attention.
Above: CCTV cameras in Lismore’s Woodlark St – similar to those being installed in Ballina.
Main image: PM Albanese making the announcement in Lennox head in February 2025 with Deputy Mayor Damian Loone (partly obscured) and Member for Richmond Justine Elliot (image: Seven News)
The Greens on Monday secured a Senate inquiry into that $560 million program, which is due to report by mid-November.
Labor argues there is a distinction between competitive grant programs and publicly announced election commitments, which governments have traditionally funded after winning office.
Mr Albanese has also turned the accusation back on the Coalition, saying it made more than 1000 local election commitments worth $1.6 billion before last year’s election.
