The incompetence of the Labor Government is again on full display just days before its new public drunkenness laws are due to come into effect.
It follows revelations that the first sobering-up centre in the state won’t be ready and will also be stretched to capacity when public drunkenness is decriminalised from Melbourne Cup Day on November 7.
The new laws would see police officers’ ability to arrest publicly intoxicated people revoked, with the individuals instead sent home or to a sobering-up centre.
“The Government has rushed through these laws and failed to prepare their health response as we approach the starting date.
“We have already said that Melbourne Cup Day is not the right time to introduce these new laws and it’s now clear that they need to be delayed until there is an adequate health response in place for all of Victoria,’ said Ms Benham
“To do otherwise would be to put individuals and the community at risk.”