A contentious crime and community safety motion has finally been endorsed by Hobsons Bay council at the third time of asking.
At Tuesday night’s meeting, councillor Lisa Bentley again moved the motion calling on council to advocate for more resources to tackle Hobson’s Bay’s rising crime rate, after her two previous attempts failed.
Cr Bentley first moved the motion as an item of urgent business at the meeting on 29 July, but was dismayed when her colleagues voted it against on procedural grounds, arguing it didn’t qualify as urgent business.
“Shame, shame, shame” shouted Cr Bentley to the chamber after her motion was lost.
At the next meeting on 26 August, Cr Bentley apologised for the outburst, before moving a revised version of the motion.
This time, councillors voted to defer the motion after Cr Kristen Bishop argued the version they before them was different to the one they’d been given earlier.
Cr Bentley later called the deferral “a cop out”.
At the meeting on 28 October, Cr Bentley moved a much revised version of the motion, including a demand that council to advocate to the state government for more funding for community safety and crime prevention initiatives, partner with neighbouring councils to create a regional approach to crime prevention and that a report be conducted on funding for public lighting and CCTV.
“It’s hard to ignore the escalating crime crisis gripping Melbourne,” Cr Bentley said in speaking to her motion.
“I implore my fellow councillors to support this motion.
“Together we can make a tangible difference in restoring the safety and security our community deserves.”
This time the only resistance was from deputy mayor Rayane Hawli, who moved an amendment demanding council write to the police and crime prevention ministers seeking support for police officer mental health and wellbeing programs too.
Cr Bentley thanked deputy mayor for the amendment, saying she wished she’d thought of it herself, while Cr Bishop said the motion was a great improvement on those previously presented and contained practical measures council could act on.
Both the amendment and the motion were carried unanimously.
