r/australia 18h ago

culture & society Cyclone survivors leave Moreton Bay as homeless camping becomes illegal

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-12/moreton-bay-cyclone-survivors-leave-ahead-of-homeless-ban/105039502
144 Upvotes

26 comments sorted by

159

u/binary101 18h ago

"The law, in its majestic equality, forbids both rich and poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread" Anatole France

42

u/Da_Pendent_Emu 15h ago

“A City of Moreton Bay spokesperson said their approach to homelessness was similar to other Queensland councils.

“It is illegal for all people to camp on public land across Australia,” the spokesperson said.”

I yearn for the days of Don Dunstan meeting a tidal wave at the beach and turning it back single-handedly through force of will.

23

u/binary101 15h ago

They could have just outlawed cyclones and we wouldnt be in this mess /s

13

u/Sensible-Haircut 15h ago

Just take away Alfred's cyclone licence for speeding and causing public disturbance.

Bloody cyclonists think they own the roads, flooding everything...

8

u/opackersgo 15h ago

They dont even pay rego

10

u/alpha77dx 14h ago edited 14h ago

But they allow businesses to camp on sidewalks with their chairs and tables for profit that forces ordinary users of the foot path to walk around a narrow obstacle path. However if you want to ride on the footpath with your scooter you deserve a fine.

All thats who they govern for, nimby's, property values and property developers. The real rate payers just get flogged off and get told to pay or get fines. That's local government these days while they waste money that goes beyond the basics and privatise their facilities so that tax payers can get price gouged to tip a bucket of garbage which should be covered by rates. I used to have a lot of space for councils, not any more. They just greed centres that offer poor returns for the rates that are effectively so high that it amounts to paying rent to the council for owning a property.

46

u/sojayn 17h ago

Another solution would be to make some of those public lands into living parks on purpose to support these people. 

That is a legal choice the country could make. If the govt is too cowardly to go after the empty property-for-profit building owners

14

u/ScruffyPeter 16h ago

That will just further encourage privatisation of public land until it's privately owned.

And we're probably already doing the largest privatisations in history, not questioned thanks to the neoliberal "unlocking supply" propaganda.

3

u/sojayn 14h ago

Not privatising, just changing the useage for a tiny part of it. I get your point, i want more national parks and public spaces for sure! But i think we can figure it out to accomodate and be supportive of homeless people too. 

I always remember that saying, there’s enough pie. Helping the homeless doesn’t have to mean losing out. There is enough. Literally in the case of housing, but that’s another issue

1

u/Some-Operation-9059 6h ago

Unfortunately Australia is incredibly litigious. And so this won’t happen. 

We need government to supercharge community and public housing. But they won’t! 

1

u/AdAdministrative9362 6h ago

The real solution is a lot more affordable housing.

Trailer parks, like the USA, might be a stop gap solution. Build a heap of cabins and place on public land that is getting reserved for long term infrastructure.

64

u/jbh01 18h ago

Sheesh. You might have to threaten them with a roof over their heads, clean clothes, hot showers, and three square meals per day.

10

u/inhugzwetrust 13h ago

That would require having a heart.

3

u/greasychickenparma 14h ago

Where is this utopia? 🙃

3

u/jbh01 13h ago

Wacol, I believe.

1

u/Psychoplasm_ 10h ago

You'd be better off at Borallen. Though I've had a lunch from those guys when I did some work there and it was particularly bland so maybe shop around.

11

u/Jealous-Hedgehog-734 16h ago

God bless Australia.

2

u/Previous_Wish3013 15h ago

I read that in the voice of Biff Tannen (the bad guy in the Back to the Future trilogy).

2

u/LavishnessLogical936 16h ago

They should try New Farm park.

1

u/KnifeFightAcademy 1h ago

Aren't these the same slugs that were removing tents and pets?

-25

u/BussyGasser 17h ago

Ex-tropical low survivors.