Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle has slammed the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal for allowing a bottle shop to sell booze 24 hours in the city's CBD.
The Exford Hotel, located on the corner of Russell Street and Chinatown, will be allowed to continue selling takeaway liquor around the clock after a decision by the tribunal that Cr Doyle labelled "completely incompetent".
"I can't tell you how angry I am about this," he said on 3AW this morning.
"This is one of the notorious venues in the city — every second night there are police cars outside.
"And VCAT, who seem to have taken a holiday at the North Pole over the last year, have [found in their favour]."
Cr Dolye claimed the Exford, which is the only 24-hour bottle shop in the CBD, has a history of poor management.
He said intoxicated patrons were known to be continually served drinks and there was regularly alcohol-fuelled incidents on the premises.
"Who really needs to buy packaged grog in the city at 5am?," Cr Doyle said.
"It beggars belief."
The venue, owned by publican Harry Chua, has successfully fought a move by liquor licensing director Sue Maclellan to shut their bottle shop at 11pm.
The furious lord mayor called upon the state government to appeal VCAT's decision.
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