A letter to the Port Phillip Council

The following letter was sent to City of Port Phillip Councillors regarding a Notice of Motion outlined in the 19 February 2025, Council Meeting agenda. The Notice of Motion is available in full in agenda item 14.1, online here.

The motion passed unanimously at the meeting.

Southside Justice and First Step will continue to work with other local service providers to advocate for compassionate, evidence-based approaches that support the wellbeing of the entire community.

19/02/2025

To: City of Port Phillip Councillors Rod Hardy, Justin Halliday, Libby Buckingham, Louise Crawford, Bryan Mears, Alex Makin, Heather Cunsolo, Beti Jay, Serge Thomann

Dear Councillors

Notice of Motion by Councillor Hardy

Southside Justice is a free legal service for people on low incomes in the cities of Port Phillip, Stonnington and Bayside. Formerly the St Kilda Legal Service, we have been helping the community access justice for more than 50 years and engage in extensive outreach throughout the City of Port Phillip, partnering with local community health and support services.

First Step is a not-for-profit mental health, substance use and legal services centre (First Step Legal is an accredited community legal centre) that has served the people of the City of Port Phillip for 25 years. All legal and other services are provided free-of-charge and in an integrated model, with team management of complex clients within First Step across local partner organisations such as Launch Housing, Windana and Better Health Network.

We refer to the Notice of Motion by Councillor Hardy due to be moved at tonight’s council meeting, 19 February 2025.

We understand the motion has been drafted within a context of community concern regarding issues of public safety and amenity in the City of Port Phillip.

We believe Council must look beyond media reports and isolated incidents, as concerning as they may be, to seek out a broader evidence base, and the full context for the concerns raised, as well as models for responding effectively and humanely. We acknowledge Council is already undertaking highly collaborative and impactful work of this kind with its Port Phillip Zero strategy and support for the new Common Ground development.

We believe community safety and amenity must similarly be addressed through collaboration and consultation, not only with individual residents and business owners, but with a broad range of local groups and agencies who understand and work with the community. It is our view that any move to introduce new bylaws is premature without such consultation.

We are deeply concerned about the draconian nature of the potential bylaws outlined in Councillor Hardy’s draft motion in its current form, which would enable extreme interference with the freedom of movement of individuals and effectively criminalise homelessness.

We urge Council not to consider introducing new bylaws prior to adequate consultation.

Yours sincerely

Mel Dye
CEO
Southside Justice

Patrick Lawrence
CEO
First Step