Taking A Stand Against Graffiti

Parliamentary Secretary for the Illawarra and South Coast Gareth Ward MP and Member for South Coast Shelley Hancock MP are urging local residents across the region to support Graffiti Removal Day this Sunday 21st October to reclaim graffiti hotspots.

Mr Ward said: “People are really sick of vandals defacing public amenities and it’s time to send a clear message that our region has zero tolerance for tagging,” he said.

“This is a community where people love where they live, which is why I’m urging locals to roll-up their sleeves and volunteer for Graffiti Removal Day.

“Cleaning up graffiti-damaged sites shows vandals we won’t stand for this kind of anti-social behaviour that leads to public spaces such as buildings, parks and train stations being turned into eyesores.”

Mrs Hancock said: “Since its inception in 2012, the number of Graffiti Removal Day volunteers across NSW has increased from 597 to over 1800 in 2017,” she said.

“In its first year, people removed graffiti from 100 sites with that number growing significantly to 428 last year.

“Overall, roughly 120,000sqm of graffiti has been removed since it began, which equates to an $8.8 million value in savings for private owners and the NSW Government,” Mrs Hancock said.

The NSW Attorney General Mark Speakman MP thanked the local community for working together to reduce graffiti in all corners of the state.

“Every year the turnout gets bigger and bigger, which proves graffiti is a bugbear the community could do without,” he said.

“While people think it’s only teens and young adults who commit these offences, we are seeing people as old as 40 getting caught tagging.

“However, tougher penalties for graffiti appear to be having an impact with 5,698 incidents of graffiti reported by NSW Police between July 2017 and June 2018 – down from 9,926 six years ago,” Mr Speakman said.

Penalties for graffiti vandalism include up to 12 months’ imprisonment and bans on the possession of spray cans by young people without a lawful excuse.

To volunteer for Graffiti Removal Day or nominate a clean-up site, please go to: www.graffitiremovalday.org.au.