To be clear, the incident occurred in SA not Victoria and on a different kind of road, however this is so emblematic of the problem.

Comments made by Shane Patton include that he thought the 30KPH limit was "Ridiculous", that it "Wouldn't be followed" by drivers, and that he was "Not aware" of evidence that would suggest it reduced the frequency and seriousness of injury and death despite being presented with those statistics provided by the council.

The South Australian police commissioner the very next day has suffered an irreversible traumatic brain injury at the hands of a hit and run driver.

Here are sources for each story:

ABC recording of interview with vicpol CC(timestamp 15:50): https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/melbourne-mornings/victoria-police-chief-commissioner-on-protests-tobacco-shops-spe/103113574

ABC News article about SA CC son's tragic injury: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-18/grant-stevens-son-alleged-hit-and-run/103121954

I encourage listening to the commissioner's response on this issue as it is eye opening about the sorry state of police administration even here in a relatively progressive city.

It's clear that the Victoria Police Chief Commissioner needs to realign his priorities from preventing deaths to preventing all injuries and incidents. These comments were despicable before, but they are indefensible now. Unfortunately I think very little of it will be said in the local media.