Melbourne gym owners call for ‘tighter regulations’ amid crime wave
As bikies and thugs throw their weight around Melbourne’s gym scene with a spate of firebombings, honest operators are demanding tougher regulations to “clean up” the fitness industry.
Victoria
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Bikies and standover merchants behind a wave of intimidation and firebombing attacks on the fitness industry are forcing gym owners to demand tougher regulations to weed out rogue operators.
It comes after a series of Melbourne gyms and fitness centres were victims of arson attacks last year, with many targeted owned or linked to notorious figures.
Police recorded 11 arson related offences at Melbourne gyms last year — up from three the year before, according to the Crime Statistics Agency, with some centres attacked multiple times.
Among those hit included Nitro Gym in Hallam — linked to the Comancheros — and Power Gymnasium which was previously connected to former Mongols bikie and boxer Sam “The Punisher” Abdulrahim.
Legacy Boxing Gym in Sunshine West closed last year after its links to far-right extremists — who used the gym as a base — was revealed, sparking large community protests.
Assault, property damage and car theft offences at gyms also increased in 2024.
Todd Howard, who owns several Melbourne Snap Fitness centres, said regulations like forcing all gym owners to be licensed would help clean up the industry.
“There’s never been a more important time to protect the future of the fitness industry’s integrity,” Mr Howard said.
“Licensing is not about red tape or barriers, it’s about trust and lifting the bar for everyone which not only benefits those who are heavily invested in the industry but the customers.
“It would support higher levels of professionalism.”
Mr Howard said the industry’s popularity post-pandemic attracted a “wide range of entrants” many of whom with “little experience” running gyms.
While gyms can register under national health and fitness governing body AUSactive — which represents more than 14,000 members — registration is not compulsory.
An AUSactive spokeswoman said it would “continue advocating” for existing codes of practice to be “enacted across the country”.
“AUSactive takes any issues that affect the integrity and safety of the fitness sector seriously,” she said.
“While we cannot comment on individual cases, our focus is on supporting legitimate, professional operators who meet high standards of conduct.
“We are always concerned about incidents that affect community safety. While such events are rare and isolated, they are alarming and underscore the importance of strong professional standards and a safe, transparent industry environment.”
Jane Kilkenny, who owns Fitness Energy in Park Orchards, said the “unregulated” industry needed an overhaul.
“At the moment anyone can (run a gym),” she said.
“AUSactive has an excellent system in place but it is voluntary, which doesn’t necessarily work for everyone.
“This kind of thing has always been there but what’s triggered this round of discussion this time is that it’s probably on the increase in certain areas and I’m more than happy to put my hand up and say our industry needs to be cleaned up.
“I do think we need some form of compulsory registration. It’s an industry that impacts people’s health and wellbeing and that’s why we need to make sure the industry is working to its highest possible standards.”
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