‘Baptism of fire’: Police union boss concerned as change to public drunkenness laws looms

Victoria’s police union boss says the abolition of public drunkenness laws in Victoria on Melbourne Cup Day could pose a threat to community safety.

Police Association secretary Wayne Gatt says he supports the decriminalisation of public drunkenness, but has concerns about the lack of residual powers which police have retained in other states which have decriminalised public drunkenness.

He says the timing of the change, on Melbourne Cup day, is “a baptism of fire”.

Press PLAY below to hear why the police union boss is concerned