Veteran entertainment reporter Peter Ford has left Melbourne, citing concerns about crime and a decline in the city’s liveability, as he relocates to Queensland for a “bright new sunny chapter”.
The longtime media personality, a regular on Seven Network and Melbourne radio station 3AW, has moved to the Gold Coast, where a studio has been set up to allow him to continue broadcasting remotely.
Ford said the decision followed months of frustration, including a string of break-ins at his home that left him feeling unsafe in what he described as a once “very lovely suburb”.
“For whatever reason, my little area … the word has got out that this is a great place to go and shoot up drugs or whatever,” he said previously.
Speaking this week, Ford maintained that crime remained a major concern in Melbourne, despite his move north.
“Crime is a big problem in Melbourne and I just hate some things going on,” he said. “I don’t leave with bad vibes, I just think there are issues going on in Melbourne that need to be fixed.”
He added that everyday experiences had become confronting. “I don’t want to walk over people to get to Coles,” he said.
Ford also pointed to the changing face of Chapel Street, once one of the city’s most vibrant retail and nightlife strips.
“You would never see an empty shop on Chapel St and now there’s empty and dirty shop windows everywhere,” he said.
His concerns come as official figures show a modest rise in crime across Victoria. Data from the Crime Statistics Agency recorded a 4.2 per cent increase in offences in 2025 compared to the previous year, driven largely by property and deception-related crimes. However, burglaries were down 4.1 per cent over the same period.
Despite high-profile concerns, population data suggests Melbourne continues to grow. The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that while 8,500 residents left the city in 2024–25, this was outweighed by 81,000 new arrivals.
A similar trend was seen in Sydney, which lost 33,000 residents but gained 78,000 over the same period.
Regional migration patterns, however, indicate a sustained appetite for lifestyle moves. The Regional Movers Index – a joint report by Commonwealth Bank and the Regional Australia Institute – found Queensland remains the top destination for city dwellers seeking a change, with the Sunshine Coast leading demand.
Regional Australia Institute chief executive Liz Ritchie said interest in leaving capital cities had remained steady.
“While most city leavers are from Sydney and Melbourne, the other capitals are also seeing outflows,” she said earlier this month.
“They might be seeking housing affordability or job opportunities. What hasn’t declined is interest in a regional move.”
Ford’s relocation reflects that broader trend, even as he continues his media work from afar, leaving behind a city he says still has “issues that need to be fixed.”
Image: Supplied
