Article: Councillor Ken Ong breaks ransk to slam council, government

[ozbob]

From the Herald Sun click here!

Councillor Ken Ong breaks ranks to slam council, government

Councillor Ken Ong breaks ranks to slam council, government
Article from: Herald Sun

Matt Johnston

August 22, 2009 12:00am

A MELBOURNE councillor who wants 24-hour trains on weekends has broken ranks to slam his own council hierarchy and the State Government for failing to act on city safety.

Cr Ken Ong said there had been "a lot of talk" about solving alcohol-fuelled violence in the CBD, but it was time for people in authority to walk the walk.

At the council's Tuesday meeting Cr Ong will ask Lord Mayor Robert Doyle to demand the State Government extend our late-night train system to 5am on weekends, and for the Taxi Directorate to ensure more taxis on those nights.

Cr Ong said the Lord Mayor must be more aggressive in dealing with the State Government.

The Lord Mayor should also write to Corrections Minister Bob Cameron to ask him to review and create more severe minimum jail sentences for serious assaults causing death.

Cr Ong, a Liberal Party member, said the council was hamstrung by what it could do to solve the violence epidemic because of a lack of power.

But there were areas it could contribute that weren't "just for publicity while avoiding the issues".

He wants the council to create a local law that would force clubs and pubs with outdoor queues to employ extra security guards.

Trains should operate between 1am and 5am on Saturday and Sunday mornings, as the Night Rider bus system could not move enough people late at night, leading to alcohol-impaired crowds.

"When you start reading in the international press how Melbourne is unsafe, it's unacceptable," he said.