A new, safer Melbourne under Gary Morgan

East Melbourne resident Gary Morgan is back for another bid for Lord Mayor, and this time improving safety is at the heart of his campaign for a new and “bigger” Melbourne. 

Mr Morgan, who is the chairman of Roy Morgan Research and a co-founder of the Committee for Melbourne, is competing in his seventh City of Melbourne election in 2024. 

In the past, his preferences have proven significant to the successful Lord Mayoral candidate in the race for Town Hall. In 2020, that was Sally Capp. 

This time around, he’s tipped to be favouring Ms Capp’s former running mate and current Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece, while historically Mr Morgan’s previous campaigns have also added one councillor to the City of Melbourne. 

The most recent councillor elected under Team Morgan was Carlton resident Dr Jackie Watts, who served for two terms between 2012 and 2020. It’s not yet confirmed who will be making up his 2024 councillor ticket. 

Speaking with Inner City News in August, Mr Morgan, a passionate and long-time resident of East Melbourne, said he was fighting in this election to improve safety in the area and “get rid of the thugs, drugs and graffiti”. 

He’s vowed to work with the state government and Victoria Police to better utilise protective services officers (PSOs), arguing those currently based at Jolimont Station could be deployed to patrol the neighbouring streets of East Melbourne.

And he said that with “safety and accessibility” being the number one priority issue for Melbourne, a master mobility plan integrating all vehicles, bicycles, walling and public transport was needed. 

Central to this plan, he wants to see Collins St bike lanes fixed and made safer by removing street parking to allow for the creation of a key east to west cycling corridor in the CBD. 

But as part of his vision for a “new Melbourne”, he’s called for the municipality to be expanded to include the Cities of Yarra and Port Phillip – an idea he said would transform Melbourne into “a prosperous and bustling metropolis”. •