Gold Coast City Council fears city’s reputation will be damaged if public intoxication and urination

Fears the Glitter Strip will suffer “poor portrayal” of the city’s “image and reputation” have been raised by Gold Coast City Council ahead of a hearing about decriminalising some key offences.

Fears the Glitter Strip will suffer “poor portrayal” of the city’s “image and reputation” have been raised by Gold Coast City Council ahead of a hearing about decriminalising public urination, public intoxication and begging.

The state parliament’s Community Support and Services Committee hearings in Surfers Paradise on Friday will determine if the three charges should no longer be a crime.

Public urination, public intoxication and begging laws are often criticised for unfairly targeting homeless people.

Public urination is one of the offences the state government is looking to repeal.

The council has already sent in an eight-page submission, signed by Deputy Mayor Donna Gates, which shows council does not support the idea unless homelessness services are increased and there alternatives to “move on” people who are a risk to the public.

The submission includes the subheading: “Poor portrayal of the city’s image and reputation.”

Under that heading the council writes: “The Gold Coast is a world-renowned tourist destination and is heavily dependent upon its tourism industry for the city’s prosperity.”

“Anti-social behaviours damage the city’s reputation, affecting future economic benefits.

“Any increased presence of these behaviours will likely adversely impact our city’s reputation.”

The council also argues the removal of the laws will impact businesses, who will be faced with a “less conducive environments for patrons, and damage to infrastructure through violent behaviours”.

Deputy Mayor Donna Gates signed off on the council’s submission which opposed the changes. Picture Glenn Hampson

The council also pointed to a 2021 survey which found only 39 per cent of Gold Coasters felt safe at night.

“It is evident from the survey that fewer respondents felt safe at night on the Gold Coast relative to other measures, noting that it is likely that visible public intoxication is higher during this period,” the submission said.

“Regular complaints are received by the City about homeless persons in public spaces, with anti-social public offences often cited among concerns.

“These behaviours include intoxication and public drinking of alcohol, urination, defecation and related odour, and littering.”

Bond University criminologist Terry Goldsworthy said he would be opposing decriminalising the laws.

“I think they are useful laws in respect of public utility and public spaces,” he said.

Mr Goldsworthy said he recently saw an itinerant man begging outside a Burleigh shop, who was being quite forceful.

Bond University criminologist Terry Goldsworthy said the current laws were useful. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

He said it would have been intimidating for the young or the elderly.

Mr Goldsworthy said part of the problem with removing the laws was they were more often used for the person’s own safety, rather than violent behaviours.

He said removing the laws meant other services would need to be put in place for people who are a danger to themselves.

Change the Record executive officer Sophie Tevitt, who will also be speaking on Friday, made a submission supportive of repealing the laws. She said indigenous peoples made up 47 per cent of people charged with public urination and 46 per cent charged with public intoxication.

“A police cell is never a safe place for an intoxicated person,” she said.

“It is our view that Queensland Police should not have powers to lock people in police cells for being intoxicated in a public place, and that this should be expressly prohibited in legislation.”

Ms Tevitt said a public health approach should be developed to deal with the issues that lead to public intoxication and urination.

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