Hoon driving has roared into Port Melbourne’s political spotlight, with two Labor road-safety promises putting the issue at the centre of the campaign to retain the marginal seat of Albert Park.
A re-elected Labor government has promised $350,000 for traffic-calming measures at Waterfront Place and the Station Pier car park, including new speed humps and raised crossings. The announcement says repeated hooning has disrupted the neighbourhood and kept residents awake.
The Station Pier commitment sits alongside a $9.65 million promise for traffic-calming works across Port Melbourne, targeting trouble spots around Bay Street and Beach Street. That package would also include raised speed humps and is being promoted as improving safety for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers.
Together, the announcements show Labor seeking to turn a persistent local complaint into an election winner in Albert Park, where neighbourhood amenity, road safety and liveability are likely to weigh heavily with voters.
The announcements also sharpen the partisan contrast. Labor says its plans would be threatened by what it describes as $40 billion in cuts under a Liberal–One Nation Coalition. The figure is a political claim made in the announcements and is not substantiated in the releases themselves.
Roads and Road Safety Minister Paul Hamer said only Labor had a plan to improve the local roads working people use every day.
Albert Park MP Nina Taylor said residents had had enough of hooning, describing the measures as an effort to “put the brakes on hoons” at Station Pier and across Port Melbourne.
One Nation fires back with sceptical salvo
Newly minted One Nation candidate Tammy Lindrum told TWiSK that safety should not be a seasonal priority that crops up only during an election campaign.
‘Five years of hooning, Five weeks until the election. Suddenly Labor finds $10M! We don’t need promises, we need the actions we have been asking for since 2019.
‘Residents have been living with dangerous antisocial gatherings and intimidating behaviour for far too long
‘A funding announcement now, can only be perceived as a grab for votes. If Labor had done their job correctly this funding would have been allocated in 4 or 5 previous budgets.’
Greens back on-the-spot fines
Greens candidate Sonya Semmens offered a more measured response.
‘I’m pleased there’s been funding allocation for this persistent quality of life and public safety issue. I’d like to see the acoustic camera trial result in technology that can issue on-the-spot fines
At present, hoon data is sent to the EPA, which can issue a mandatory vehicle-testing notice. Drivers must then bring their car in for auditory testing by the EPA — without modifying it first, presumably.
‘I think to be an effective intervention we’ll need technology that can issue on-the-spot fines, rather than require the driver to turn the car over for inspection. We should all be able to live in peaceful enjoyment and safety in our homes.’
All candidates were contacted for comment.
