This issue came up a couple of weeks back on the news. The numbers have doubled in the last two years.
The problem isn't so much the homeless people, but backpackers are sleeping rough & making use of the food vans & laundry vans & other services provided for homeless people.
Cheers Pete
The issue behind this amendment to the definition within the regulations has been driven by the 'camping' of homeless people in Flinders Street, literally on the footpath at Flinders Street Railway Station. The increased interest by the authorities in this situation at this location began when they tried to move the homeless campers on because of the Australian Open tennis competition ... OH and because there are impending renovations of the Flinders Street Railway Station.
Interestingly, there has been minimal activity by authorities to 'move on' the homeless from many other areas of Melbourne - such as under railway bridges and parks.
Camping in vehicles, tents etc had always been banned but that the wording of the definition within the regulation was apparently 'limiting' authorities in being able to use that regulation to move homeless people on.
The link to the article says it all -
Cheers - John
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....and the cause?..rather than identifying the problem for those who do not wish to view those vulnerables with far less than themselves?....
The traditional 'cheaper rentals' in the boarding houses across Melbourne, have all been bought by the developers, knocked down and swanky new Town houses built for the Chinese/well heeled........30,000 odd homes in Melbourne are unoccupied with no water usage shown....many with foreign owners, maintained by contractors.....
'They' would have us believe that many of these folk sleeping in the Streets really do have other means of accommodation/loving family's/ etc.....whilst we sleep in our RV's and Motorhomes and possibly tut tut....they are sleeping in cars...cardboard box's, under bridges.....alley ways, across pavements...I've been down there and seen their plight first hand.....who are we to throw the first stone?....its a National tragedy which is growing as Melbourne Property Prices continue to the moon largely because of foreign money....Australians can barely compete....and the Great Divide grows/worsens..
If this is touching on being Political ,which is not my aim, then I apologise.....I think our sympathys/resources/ should be directed at those who are the genuine victims, rather than those who consider them simply an eyesore to their sensibilities...and enact laws to 'move' the problem rather than attempt to solve it.....IMO....Hoo Roo
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They could try 'getting off the grass' so to speak!!! Go to the country and get cheap digs. There's many ways not to be homeless.
Gee, who ever would of thought donating swags to them wouldnt encourage them. Most ridiculous idea I ever heard.
What a disgrace.
Way beyond time they were moved on. I first heard of this weeks ago and they're still there??? Just mounds of rubble!!!
People like this are one of the reasons I'll pull up exactly where I want, when I want. How dare authorities stop me who is respectful and leaves no trace, whilst letting these people loiter around living in squalor. YUK!!
