On the ABC news this morning:
Brisbane City Council is working with police to crack down on "anti-social behaviour" at the city's homeless camps.
Council City Standards chairwoman Sarah Hutton said the council was receiving increasing numbers of complaints from local residents and businesses near the tent cities.
"Following the Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner's personal call to the Police Commissioner, we've established a joint taskforce to help address escalating violent, aggressive and anti-social behaviour in Brisbane parks," Cr Hutton said.Roma Street resident David Mech said he had repeatedly complained to the council about the state of homeless camps around the inner city.
He said he wanted to see homeless camping criminalised to make the Brisbane cityscape "aesthetically beautiful" again.
The retired porn star gave a speech at council chambers on Tuesday last week, where he advocated that Brisbane follow the likes of Florida and make public camping a crime.
He told ABC Radio Brisbane there should be a designated campsite in Brisbane where homeless sleepers were permitted, but outlawed everywhere else.
"There's an old saying all around the world that beggars can't be choosers, but here in Brisbane they absolutely can," Mr Mech said.
As I've complained before - it's pretty much a modern nonsense to think that a reasonable response to homelessness is to let encampments develop in any public park or space. I know we are far behind America in the extent of the problem, but as the backlash there is finally gathering pace, I see no reason to let our cities even start developing the same issue.
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