Journalist Peter Ford sparks debate as he takes aim at 'putrid' conditions in Melbourne CBD
Entertainment journalist Peter Ford has sparked debate after labelling conditions in Melbourne's CBD "putrid".
The veteran reporter shared a video on X this week, showing damage to a public toilet outside a major train station.
"Back in Melbourne for 48 hours. So much of the CBD is just putrid," he wrote.
Journalist Peter Ford lamented Melbourne's "putrid" CBD, sharing a video showing graffiti. X @newmrpford
"This is a public toilet on footpath outside Flinders Street Station. It's strewn with filth and graffiti. I dare not look inside."
Ford, who moved out of the city in late April, later added: "I'm a visitor here these days but do you seriously think I'm the only visitor to walk past and say 'yuk'? ... Thankfully it's my observation, not my problem."
The footage prompted a passionate response, with hundreds of replies.
"This is largely representative of much of Melbourne and suburbia. Like seeing an old friend slowly die," one follower wrote.
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Ford lived in Melbourne the majority of his life. X @newmrpford
The entertainment reporter revealed his plan to leave the city last year. Nine Podcasts
"It feels like people have become numb to it. Sad," Ford replied.
While many agreed with him, others questioned if a public toilet was the best example of a city in decline.
"Public toilets have looked like this for a decade," one reply said.
"Never knew a public toilet looking any different in any city on the planet," said another.
In October 2025, Ford said he was fleeing Victoria because of the state's burgeoning crime problem.
He told Nine podcast Neil Mitchell Asks Whyhe had given up on Melbourne, saying his own house had been targeted by burglary attempts several times.
He moved to the Gold Coast last month.
"Back in Melbourne for 48 hours. So much of the CBD is just putrid," Ford said. Getty
Victoria's Crime Statistics Agency showed the state's offences per 100,000 people was at its highest level since 2016 in 2025.
The number of offences increased 4.2 per cent compared with 2024.
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