Hitting Home: Brisbane City Council turns blind eye to crisis

Brisbane City Council has turned a blind eye to the tent cities crop up across the city, while calling on the state to do more.

Brisbane City Council has turned a blind eye to makeshift tent cities cropping up across the city, as it accuses the state government of not stepping up to address the housing crisis.

While the council first introduced police move-on powers for the homeless in 2005, those living rough say it is a rare course of action, and homeless charities have reported handing out hundreds of tents to the Queenslanders being forced out on to the streets.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner refused to say whether council was allowing the homeless camps on an unofficial basis, but acknowledged the housing crisis was worsening.

He called on the state government to use the Pinkenba quarantine facility.

“It’s just heartbreaking people are living on the street, in cars and in tents when there are hundreds of beds sitting empty at Pinkenba,” Mr Schrinner said.

“Let’s get people into this accommodation at Pinkenba now, and then we can work on longer-term, permanent solutions to address this housing crisis.”
Brisbane civic cabinet chair for community, arts and night-time economy Vicki Howard reiterated council’s position that the empty Pinkenba quarantine facility should be repurposed for crisis accommodation.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner

“While council runs a number of programs that support those at risk or experiencing homelessness in Brisbane, we continue to advocate for the empty Pinkenba quarantine facility to be turned into crisis accommodation, particularly for victims of domestic violence,” she said.

Dozens of people are camped out every night under the William Jolly Bridge, and along the Brisbane River from Kangaroo Point to South Bank.

One camper, Ronnie, said the William Jolly tent community had grown considerably this year with most members staying there for months.

He said council workers were aware the group were living beneath the bridge but had chosen to turn a blind eye rather than move the group on and force them to relocate elsewhere in the public domain.

Ms Howard said council officers were conducting regular welfare checks on the homeless.

“Council’s public space liaison officers work extensively across Brisbane, conducting welfare checks, getting to know people who are sleeping rough, building trust, developing professional relationships and linking them with services to help them access housing,” she said.