Melbourne City Council has begun enforcing its “You Spray, You Pay” anti-graffiti policy, which will require vandals to cover clean-up costs. The crackdown has reignited debate over where street art ends and vandalism begins in a city famous for both.

First introduced by Lord Mayor Nick Reece in February 2025, the policy is part of a broader restriction on graffiti vandalism across Melbourne. It aimed to ensure offenders caught illegally tagging buildings or Council property were liable for removal costs rather than leaving ratepayers to foot the bill.

More than a year later, in April 2026, the policy has shifted from a campaign promise to legal enforcement. City of Melbourne councillors are formally backing compensation orders against prosecuted offenders.

Victoria Police has been asked to pursue these orders through criminal proceedings, with civil action considered if offenders fail to pay. Council staff may also appear in court to deliver Victim Impact Statements.

The Future Melbourne Committee’s 14 April 2026 meeting agenda confirmed that two graffiti-related cases are currently being prosecuted by Victoria Police, and that Council is seeking compensation from alleged offenders known as “YOMP”, “Q Bee” or “Bruege”. The Council says graffiti removal across Melbourne costs more than $2 million annually, with the prolific tagger “Bruege” allegedly responsible for nearly $178,000 in clean-up costs.

Reece expressed strong confidence in the plan at the Committee meeting, stating that “the message could not be clearer: if you spray, you will pay.”

To encourage public reporting, the City of Melbourne is promoting the reporting app “Snap Send Solve”, which allows people to quickly upload photos of illegal graffiti for faster removal. According to the Council’s Director of Waste and Recycling, Vince Macolino, the tool has reduced duplicated work orders by over 40 per cent and significantly improved resident satisfaction across the city.

However, dissent remains. Critics argue that the crackdown risks blurring the line between vandalism and Melbourne’s well-known street art culture. While the city celebrates places like Hosier Lane and Caledonian Lane for their colourful walls and massive art displays, stricter enforcement on illegal tagging has prompted questions about what some see as a cultural contradiction.

Responses to the Council's Facebook post promoting the app reflect this divide. Some users are concerned that stricter removal policies could treat all graffiti as vandalism without clearly distinguishing artistic expression from criminal damage.

Even with the efforts introduced by the city, the problem appears to persist. Several Southbank residents—represented by President of the Southbank Residents’ Association Tony Penna—argue that significant flaws remain in the Council’s approach. Residents are still dealing with unwanted tagging on local apartment buildings and private property, feeling there is a lack of attention given to residential areas while the Council focuses more

heavily on main streets and institutional infrastructure. They are urging the Council to prioritise local neighbourhoods and, as Penna says, “get our own backyard in order.”

Image source: Arije Chibani