Queensland’s small and family businesses have been handed a security upgrade, with the state government pumping $9.6 million into CCTV, alarms, bollards and bright lights designed to scare off would-be crooks before they can strike.

The initiative is part of the Crisafulli Government’s new Secure Communities Partnership Program, which promises $40 million over three years to make local shopping strips, industrial estates and family-run shops harder targets for crime.

Considering the eye-watering insurance premiums many small business owners have faced in recent years, the move couldn’t come soon enough.

From ‘decade of decline’ to CCTV central

According to government figures, small and family business insurance rates in Queensland shot up nearly 80 per cent under the previous Labor government, leaving some shopkeepers with little choice but to shut their doors.

Premier David Crisafulli said the new approach was about heading crime off at the pass.

“We are making Queensland safer by stopping crime before it happens with bolstered security for small and family businesses,” Crisafulli said.

“Small and family businesses are the backbone of Queensland, and this is about giving them the safety and security they deserve to protect their livelihoods as well as their staff.”

What $9.6m buys you these days

The first round of funding covers 42 projects across the state, with a whopping 35 of them located in regional Queensland. Thirty-two sites are getting new surveillance and alarm systems, while others will benefit from floodlights, lockable fences, reinforced bollards and improved perimeter security.

The rollout will mean more cameras watching the streets, fewer shadowy corners for troublemakers, and a whole lot more peace of mind for the people operating small businesses across the state.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the new tech would slot into the existing CitySafe network of more than 3,800 cameras already dotted around the capital.

“Every dollar small businesses spend cleaning up after crime hurts their bottom line, and these new cameras will help us deter crime so businesses can focus on delivering great services to the community,” Schrinner said.

Putting small biz first

This security push isn’t happening in a vacuum. It’s tied to the Crisafulli Government’s Small and Family Business First Action Statement, a $100 million blueprint released earlier this year that sets out how the government plans to give small operators a fighting chance.

The plan includes everything from cutting red tape and speeding up government payments to helping businesses take on apprentices and even offering cybersecurity programs (because these days, criminals aren’t just hanging around dark alleys; they’re lurking online, too).

Steve Minnikin, the Minister for Small and Family Business, said the security funding was a practical step in backing the state’s 495,000 small businesses.

“For a small business owner, the cost of crime against their business cannot be understated,” he said.

“Through the $40 million Secure Communities Partnership Program, we are working directly with councils, chambers of commerce and small businesses across Queensland to deliver practical, on-the-ground solutions that deter crime and create safer, more welcoming business areas.”

The ripple effect of crime

Retail crime rates are spiralling across the country. If you’ve ever run a shop, you know it doesn’t take much to put a dent in the books. A smashed window, stolen stock, or even just a break-in attempt can chew up cash flow and spike your insurance bills.

And it’s not just city centres that cop it. Regional and rural towns can feel the impact even more sharply. The Action Statement notes that small and family businesses , often handed down through generations, are critical employers in these areas,

When crime eats into these businesses’ bottom line, it chips away at the whole local economy.

Round two: open to all

Crisafulli said the 42 projects announced this week are just the beginning. A second round of funding is set to open before the end of the year, and small businesses will be able to apply directly for grants to fund their own security upgrades.

That could mean adding shutters, or finally getting the CCTV system you’ve been eyeing off.

Lest you think this is altruism at work, consider this: Queensland is forecast to be home to more than 615,000 small businesses by 2032; so there’s an incentive for the government to help keep these operators safe and thriving.

Safer shops equal stronger communities

The Crisafulli Government is pitching the Secure Communities program as a fresh start for Queensland businesses, which have been bruised by years of rising costs and crime headaches. Whether it lives up to that promise will depend on how quickly the measures are rolled out and whether small operators truly feel the difference.

At the very least, more cameras, brighter lights and sturdier fences mean one thing: it will be harder for thieves to sneak about unnoticed.

“While victim numbers are down across Queensland, there is still plenty more work to be done, and we will continue to deliver a fresh start as we restore community safety across the State,” Crisafulli concluded.

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