Strengthening our communities can offer a more secure future

It may be commonsense but within the political debate, it is not common at all. This is why we need to shine a light on the Gosnells research and develop an urban policy response to law and order.

Again, Gosnells is showing the way forward. The Council is spending $5.7 million on the creation of a footpath network - to encourage pedestrian activity and surveillance. It is also running a People In Parks program to encourage community life and street activity.

As we build new suburbs, we need to create villages of people. Safe City has developed the planning principles that make this possible, cutting crime by 40 per cent through better urban design. A federal Labor government will work with local government to spread this success across the country. We want all our cities to be Safe Cities.

Labor is the only party that believes in Federal responsibility for community security. The Liberals talk a lot about security but they have no agenda for making people safer in our streets and neighbourhoods.

In Canberra, I shadow a phantom. There is no Minister for Community Security. There are no government programs for Community Safety Zones or Safe Cities, just buck-passing to the states and territories.

As a nation, we must do better. We need new thinking and new policies for making our country safe. Strong, secure borders. Strong, secure communities. This is how Labor will secure Australia's future.