Homeless tent city want to stay in park and warn council to be aware of their human rights

A homeless group is asking council to put a stay on evicting them, citing human rights concerns including the right to privacy. Read what they said in a letter to the City.

A homeless group is asking council to put a stay on evicting them from Southport’s Carey Park and conduct a review which considers their human rights.

The Bulletin has obtained the letter from the Southport Community of People Experiencing Homelessness which seeks a written response from the council.

The group says it believes council by issuing eviction notices may have been breaching human rights and nominated three instances.

“We are writing to raise a formal human rights concern regarding the recent eviction notice from Carey Park. We are a group of individuals who are experiencing homelessness,” the letter says.

An “abandoned property” notice placed by council on a tent Carey Park. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

The group argues that under the Human Rights Act, individuals shave a right to “recognition and equality before the law” but they were being treated unfairly “due to our housing status”.

They also cited “the right to privacy” which for the homeless meant that “tents or shelters in public spaces are their only form of home or refuge”.

Evictions would also place vulnerable people at risk in severe weather, they added.

“Considering the recent severe weather event and how often these are occurring, it would endanger our lives to remove us from our shelters or tents,” the group said.

The council has been asked by the homeless to explore a more “compassionate” response and consider finding safe places and “alternative accommodation” with community support.

Southport councillor Brooke Patterson said she was not aware of the letter, sent to the administration and not her office, but would track it down to see council’s response.

“If they think we are not aware of that legislation and what we are doing regarding it, it’s not accurate,” she said.

Cr Brooke Patterson: seeking updates on the homeless. Picture: Glenn Campbell.

Ms Patterson said the council did not have powers to “move on” the homeless, even if the City wanted to shift them from public parks.

She said council staffers were due to provide an updated briefing late on Tuesday.

Matangirau Hira, known as “Uncz” to the homeless and their spokesperson, estimates about 70 people are in Southport without shelter.

The council had placed “abandoned property” notices on tents in the parks but the City last week conceded it would not remove belongings.

Matangirau 'Uncz' Hira in front of the homeless camp in Carey Park. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

Housing Minister Sam O’Connor said Housing Outreach officers have been in Southport engaging with as many people as they safely could, and would continue to offer help.

“When support is offered, I urge people to please take it up,” he said.

Mayor Tom Tate says he will pay bus fares of the homeless to Byron Bay if they want to move, as a tent city grows in the CBD.

Mr Tate, who admits to being saddened by the housing crisis, believes the Government must have better solutions than just taking away tents.

“(But) if the police are not going to move them, (the council) are not going to jump in and do that,” he said.

“Happy to get them a bus, and if they want to, take them to Byron Bay and enjoy the lifestyle down there.”

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Originally published as Homeless tent city want to stay in park and warn council to be aware of their human rights