Bridge barriers a priority, says Brumby

The Victorian government is considering fast-tracking the construction of suicide barriers on Melbourne's West Gate Bridge following the alleged murder of a young girl.

Four-year-old Darcey Freeman died in hospital from massive internal injuries after she was allegedly thrown off the bridge on Thursday by her father, plunging 58 metres into the water.

Arthur Freeman, 35, of Hawthorn, has been charged with Darcey's murder. He has been remanded in custody and will next appear in court on May 21 for a committal mention.

Victorian Premier John Brumby said suicide barriers were planned as part of the $1.4 billion upgrade of the Monash and West Gate freeways.

That project was not due to finish until the end of next year but the government would see if it could install the barriers sooner, he said.

"What we've asked VicRoads to do, in the light of recent events, is to see if that project can be fast-tracked," Mr Brumby told reporters on Friday.

"It's always been their view that it is best to do the bridge improvements and the widening in partnership with the barriers - running parallel.

"But obviously we've asked if new arrangements can be put in place which would fast-track that work. I can't put a date on that for you today."

Mr Brumby said suicide barriers were first recommended to the government in a coroner's report around 2005.

Before then, expert opinion had been divided.

Mr Brumby said fast-tracking the barriers was a question of engineering and how quickly the work could be done.

"I know that obviously VicRoads, the head of VicRoads, like every other Victorian and Australian, was unbelievably distressed by the events which occurred yesterday and I think everyone is committed to doing whatever we can to try to ensure that nothing like this could ever, or would ever, happen again," he said.

Melbourne's Anglican archbishop has joined the calls for suicide barriers to be urgently installed on the city's West Gate Bridge.

Archbishop Philip Freier also urged Victorians to be more supportive of members of the community who were experiencing difficulties.

He hoped the tragedy would make people more aware of their neighbours and to reach out to those hurting.

"... there are deeper questions about what is happening in a person's life that would lead to such a terrible outcome, the vulnerability of individuals that can lead to such dislocation and breakdown," he said.

"See this as a wake-up call to a society which has largely lost the strong neighbourhood and community relationships of times past."