The Victorian government’s $79 million sobering-up centres are sitting largely empty, fresh figures show.
New data reveals less than three people a night are referred to the facilities in Collingwood and St Kilda, which provide 26 beds for people to “safely recover from the effects of intoxication”.
The policy has been under increased scrutiny since Wyndham Vale man Abukar Jama died when he was hit by a car hours after being refused entry to a centre last June.
Just over 1000 people were referred to the service between November 2023 and October 2024, according to data obtained by the Herald Sun.
Labor MP Steve Dimopoulos defended the service, arguing the facilities protect those at risk of dying in police custody.
“I think its a success if there are less people using them over time because the message is getting through and the outreach is getting through,” Dimopoulos said.
“The reality is they need to exist, we don’t want people dying in prison.”
But Victorian opposition leader Brad Battin said it was clear the facilities were a waste of money.
“They have spent $40 million on a centre that is not working where people are being told they’re too drunk to attend a sobering up centre,” Battin said.
“We don’t support bringing back criminalising public drunkenness, but we do support that people in those positions need support and police should have the powers to do it.”
