Gabrielle de Vietri uploads social media videos showing her using her mobile phone illegally while riding her bike
An MP and former mayor of the People’s Republic of Yarra has been busy spruiking a new safety law while seeming to think another law does not apply to her.
Putting the squeeze on Victoria’s movers, shakers and headline makers
What sort of politician boasts about creating a new safety law while breaking another one?
A Greens MP, that’s who, and in this case it’s repeat offender Gabrielle de Vietri.
Readers familiar with the member for Richmond’s work may remember that last year, the Herald Sun reported that she had posted a video on social media which was apparently filmed using her mobile phone illegally while riding her bicycle.
Victoria Police confirmed at the time that it was an offence – enforced by a $593 fine – for a cyclist to operate a mounted or portable device while riding.
The only exceptions, according to Transport Victoria, are for making and receiving calls, playing music and getting directions.
But de Vietri, the former mayor of the People’s Republic of Yarra, seems to think this law does not apply to her.
Twice last week, she posted more videos apparently filmed while she was cycling.
In one, she cruised past an inner-city cohealth clinic that had secured emergency government funding to avoid closure.
In the other, de Vietri was surrounded by a group of cyclists, celebrating what she said was the Greens securing $150m for “safe bike lanes and footpaths”.
(The minor party won an amendment to the state government’s move to jack up the congestion levy, to direct $15m a year over the next 10 years to “active transport projects” in five inner-city council areas.)
The Source can only humbly suggest that these bike lanes would be safer without selfie-taking MPs.
But we’ll leave that to Victoria Police.
Got a tip? Let us know: thesource@heraldsun.com.au
More Coverage
Pesutto casts a shadow over Wilson’s frontbench call
