Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has stated that the government could not have done anything else to prevent a car from ploughing into pedestrians and cars in the city center, resulting in one death and five injuries. This incident brings back haunting memories of the 2017 Bourke Street rampage, where six people were killed. In response to that tragedy, concrete bollards were installed at several prominent locations in Melbourne.
In 2019, additional stainless steel bollards and reinforced barriers were added near tram tracks in the Mall, at Princes Bridge, and Flinders Street Station to create pedestrian refuges. These security upgrades were accompanied by the installation of extra CCTV cameras and an emergency speaker system. However, despite these measures, the recent incident was not prevented.
When asked if more could be done to protect pedestrians, Premier Andrews expressed his belief that there was nothing else that could be done to enhance pedestrian safety in Melbourne’s CBD. He pointed out the challenges posed by the city’s tram network and intersecting roads, which inevitably lead to pedestrian traffic. According to him, the government has already taken significant steps to fortify footpaths and control traffic movement.
The premier stated that experts in the field have determined that there are no other engineering treatments available that would have changed the outcome of Friday night’s incident. He emphasized that the government has done all it can to prevent such incidents and fortify footpaths. A total of 645 bollards have been installed across Melbourne’s CBD, including 131 at Bourke Street Mall and 51 at Flinders Street Station.
Victoria Police chief Shane Patton assured the public that patrols would be increased over the weekend to ensure the safety of Melbourne. He also confirmed that the incident was not linked to terrorism. The suspect, who has since been charged with murder, has no previous criminal history and will be questioned once deemed fit to interview.