Generally my column is reserved for what is wrong in our society and what is a blight on our culture. But today I must change my tune, for Melbourne has been awarded the most liveable city in the world.
Australia received four nods in the top ten, as Adelaide (5th), Sydney (7th) and Perth (9th) were all mentioned. It almost makes you wonder what is wrong with the other Australian cities.
What makes our home better than any other ? Well, perfect scores in education, infrastructure and healthcare allowed a score of 97.5/100 to edge out Vienna in the slimmest of margins (a single decimal point).
Napthine believes it is an increase in tourism, but cities in Southeast Asia and Europe continue to dominate in those markets. We are a city of travellers, so it’s hard to believe our city is as attractive an option as the beauty of Paris or the chaos of Bangkok.
Our low murder rate was one of the biggest boosts in liveability. That’s a relief. Yet with all the publicity on recent ‘king hit’ instances and apparent rises in drug activity it makes you question the reliability of stats and also the reliability of news headlines that suggest such negativity.
Personally, walking the streets of Melbourne at 3am on a Sunday morning rarely feels dangerous. Sometimes I’m with company and sometimes I’m alone, but either way it isn’t an issue. Trouble invites trouble. The people in Melbourne are simply learning this quicker than overseas counterparts.
I compare this to the experience of cities such as Ho Chi Minh, Bangkok and Phnom Penh .
Cities I ventured alone.
Cities where the taxi driver offers drugs, women, weapons and basically any other service or product requested. Nothing needs to be requested as all is offered. It may be the man behind the bar, or the kid on the street. Sellers are everywhere, and they aren’t afraid to voice their influence.
Friendly locals warn of their dangerous countrymen while the sun is up, and vanish when night takes control. One young man told me of a night when he walked home, in Kuala Lumpur, and was cornered by seven men with sticks. They took the money in his wallet and smashed his phone against a brick wall. They finalised by removing every piece of his clothing. This isn’t robbery; it’s anarchy.
This can happen anywhere. It can happen in this city, in the next city over and the city on the opposite side of the globe. But we must find comfort in knowing Melbourne is considered safe.
It still paints an interesting picture. I’ve been punched in the face in a nightclub in Melbourne before, but returned unscathed after a month of dwelling through Southeast Asia’s most infamous cities.
It must be remembered that safety isn’t the prime component. Sporting events, musical festivals and art exhibitions run like clockwork in Melbourne. The AFL Grand Final and the Melbourne Cup are events that are as important as Christmas on the calendar.
But getting cocky isn’t wise. It doesn’t take much to ruin a reputation, and with the shaky grounds of the government and the ongoing issues of drugs in clubs there is always potential for destruction.
Either way, we are far away from Damascus in Syria, which finished last with a score of 30.5.
Have a beverage, put your feet up and enjoy the current status of your city. You can’t take peace and safety for granted.
Chris Sutton
