Father sues Vic govt over bridge death

A father whose son committed suicide by jumping from Melbourne's West Gate Bridge will sue the Victorian government which he says failed to install barriers which could have prevented the death.

Ali Halkic is angry the Victorian government will spend $20 million on colourful lights for the bridge but failed to take heed of recommendations by two coroners to install suicide barriers.

Mr Halkic's son Allem took his life last February after he was allegedly bullied on a social networking website.

His death came just days after the death of four-year-old Darcey Freeman, who was allegedly thrown from the bridge by her father Arthur Phillip Freeman.

Authorities began installing suicide barriers after the deaths.

Mr Halkic said that in 2004 and 2005 separate coroner's rulings recommended suicide barriers be installed but nothing was done.

He said his son would not have died had barriers been installed.

"Why did it take the loss of my son to incorporate immediate action," Mr Halkic said.

"The majority of suicides are impulsive. We are talking about the ones that could have been prevented and the opportunity taken away from them."

He said he was sickened when he heard $20 million would be spent on lights.

"When I heard him (Victorian Premier John Brumby) gloating about it, they don't take families into consideration that have lost family on the West Gate," Mr Halkic said.

"I don't want to see the bridge illuminated to remind me of my son, where he died, every single day of my life."

He wants the state government to acknowledge the barriers are working and offer medical and psychological support to families.

Already two other families are joining the legal action and Mr Halkic hopes more will follow.

Mr Brumby said the government acted on the advice of experts which was to install the barriers when it was doing a major upgrade of the bridge.

"Any suicide, any loss of life is a tragedy and I feel very deeply for the families concerned," he said on Thursday.

"But I think in terms of the steps we're taking ... (the permanent barriers on the West Gate) are positive steps and they are steps that are designed to save lives in the future."

* For help with personal problems call Lifeline on 131 114 or SuicideLine on 1300 651 251

ninemsn 28 Jan 2010

The government could NOT CARE less about the death of an individual. To them it's just another statstic.

What is important is to give money $ to $ mates for unnecessary contract work i.e installation of lights on the Westage bridge.

Once you rely on the government for the welfare of your child, they are earmakred for the position of CANON FODDER.

At one point in time there was one death daily from the top of the Westage Bridge,
BUT there is a general media moratorium on this subject.