Melbourne's sobering up centre won't be ready in time for public drunkenness law change
Melbourne's sobering up centre does not have a guaranteed opening date, despite changes to public drunkenness laws coming into effect next week.
The Victorian Government confirmed construction delays would prevent the facility in Collingwood from opening by November 7, which coincides with the annual Melbourne Cup public holiday.
The new health-based reforms will mean police can no longer arrest someone for being drunk in public.
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The facility will be on Cambridge Street in Collingwood. Nine
The facility will have the capacity to treat more than 140 patients each week, and will be run by non-profit community health organisation Cohealth.
Deputy Premier Ben Carroll couldn't confirm an opening date for the facility today.
"We are working very hard. I don't want to give a firm yes but I know we are working very hard to have Collingwood open as soon as possible," he said.
Victoria Police Chief commissioner Shane Patton assured police were prepared for the changes, however that was quickly refuted by the Police Association.
Secretary Wayne Gatt told 3AW's Neil Mitchell that he was "genuinely worried that the government was not as prepared as it should be".
"We will have a gap between the health service providers and the encountering of intoxication on the street," he said.
"We might in a position where we are walking away from the scene or where police members leave."
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Public drunkenness laws to be scrapped in Victoria - starting from Melbourne Cup day Nine
The Victorian government's push to abolish the state's public drunkenness laws was prompted by the death of Indigenous woman Tanya Day.
The Yorta Yorta woman died in hospital in 2017 after falling and hitting her head in a police holding cell.
She had been arrested for public drunkenness when she was found asleep on a train travelling from Bendigo to Melbourne.
While the centre has no guaranteed opening date, its operator will instead work on the city's streets.
Up to 10 teams - each with a vehicle, nurse and alcohol and drug specialist will patrol greater Melbourne from Melbourne Cup Day.
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