Woman lashes out at news crew at homeless camp near Australian Open
A WOMAN at a Melbourne homeless camp has lashed out at news crews, as Australian Open visitors are left shocked by the aggression and drug use.
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LATEST: THERE have been heated scenes at Melbourne’s homeless camp today with a woman lashing out at news crews.
The homeless camp has engulfed the Australian Open’s main gateway, stunning visitors faced with aggression and rampant drug use.
The makeshift camp outside Flinders St station — the main travel hub for those visiting the Open — was growing in yesterday’s heat, despite attempts to remove people from the site.
Dirty bedding, rubbish, pet waste, food scraps and discarded clothes littered the site.
This morning a homeless woman lashed out at television crews at the camp. The woman told crews they have no right to film her.
Police have since spoken to the woman. Several rough sleepers aggressively pursued locals and visitors.
And many were photographed using drug paraphernalia.
Meanwhile, an open letter from the CEOs of 36 agencies working with the homeless has urged against the vilification of rough sleepers.
“Vilifying people sleeping rough does not help them, splashing the faces of people in crisis in the paper only further stigmatises and isolates them, and fuels public fear and resentment,” the letter said.
Ugly scenes outside Flinders St Station - rough sleepers ordering news crews to leave. @3AW693 pic.twitter.com/DIrPU2x3pU
— Pat Mitchell (@patty_mitchell) January 17, 2017
Signed by bosses of groups like Anglicare, Jesuit Social Services, the Salvation Army and Launch Housing, the letter said it was “shameful that there are people sleeping on the streets in a country as affluent as Australia”.
“The real shame is that this crisis has been with us for some time, and it is only now that it has become visible in our streets that there is outrage and reaction,” it said.
The groups said police could act on issues such as aggression and public drug use, but it wasn’t illegal to be poor and homeless.
“We will never solve poverty and homelessness by moving people on, or by putting them in crisis accommodation for a few weeks,” the CEOs said.
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Last year’s.pen injected $278 million into the Victorian economy and attracted more than 720,000 fans, many from overseas.
The Herald Sun can reveal a split has now emerged between the city council and Victoria Police about dealing with the homeless crisis.
Council sources said there was a view police were not doing enough to deal with aggressive beggars and the increasing numbers setting up illegal camps. It has also been claimed that shop owners and businesses have complained to council that their calls to police are ignored.
The sight of the camp has shocked overseas visitors.
American Jack Fielding said: “I’m from (Washington) DC, and I’ve never seen anything as bad as this. You can’t walk 250 metres without being hassled for money.
“It’s not a good look for Melbourne. It doesn’t look like the world’s most liveable city from what I’ve seen so far,” Mr Fielding said.
“More like something you would find in the backstreets of Delhi.”
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Scotland’s Jim Jefferies agreed: “I’ve been to Sydney, Brisbane, and Adelaide, and this is the worst I’ve seen.
“It’s literally in your face everywhere you turn,” he said.
“I’m not sure what the answer is but whatever Melbourne is doing, it’s clearly not working.”
Several people at the camp reacted aggressively when approached by the Herald Sun on Tuesday.
Lord Mayor Robert Doyle refused to be drawn on any split with police, but said it was vital all played their part.
“We all — City of Melbourne, State Government, Federal Government, welfare agencies, Victoria Police — need to be on the same page to deal with (this),” he said.
“I am very keen to work with Victoria Police in coming months on the new assertive, even aggressive, outreach programs that we are trialling to address homelessness.”
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The State Opposition has called for the restoration of move-on laws to deal with the homeless camp, with Opposition Leader Matthew Guy accusing the State Government of ignoring growing homelessness and drug dealing.
“Crime is out of control, homelessness and drug dealing are rife, and yet (Premier) Daniel Andrews appears not to care less,” he said.
The government would not discuss the Flinders St camp, but a spokesman said it was investing $600 million to ease homelessness.
Shadow Attorney-General John Pesutto said the move-on laws dumped by the Andrews Government could have been used to clear campers outside Flinders St Station.
“They certainly could have been used by Victoria Police in the face of a growing number of rough sleepers occupying our streets and using and dealing in drugs in front of our very eyes,” he said.
“It’s just a useful way that police can manage potentially volatile situations and move people on in a very simple and direct way.”
Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said it was up to the police to talk to the Government if they felt they lacked powers.
“Well, we don’t have any move-on powers and neither do the police, so you can’t physically do it,” he said.
“If people are obstructing the footpath that is something we can remove but then they’ll just move back again.”
Cr Doyle said he had been assured by police that they would act against illegal behaviour like drug dealing and violence, but rough sleeping was a complex problem that required coordination of support services.
“There are cities around the world where they simply bundle homeless people up and ship them out,” he said.
“I’d hate to think that we were ever that sort of city, we need to address the problem, not just do a cosmetic job.”
Cr Doyle called on the Government to introduce a “catch-all” law that would make substances such as synthetic marijuana illegal.
Superintendent David Clayton said police could only act if a criminal offence had been committed.
“Police are certainly not turning a blind eye to drug taking on the streets,” he told 3AW.
“When we detect offences we take the appropriate action, which might include referral to drug support agencies.
“There is no offence for sitting or sleeping on the footpath so we don’t have authority to move people on in those circumstances.”
Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Mark Stone said aggressive beggars could tarnish Melbourne’s reputation as the world’s most liveable city.
“We support all measures that enable residents and parents and their children to be able to go about their daily activities safely, without being exposed to illegal drug activity,” Mr Stone said.
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FLINDERS St traders say growing numbers of homeless sleepers on their doorsteps are causing a downturn in trade.
And tourists among the thousands of fans flocking to Melbourne Park to watch the world’s best tennis players battle for Open glory are less than impressed by the spectacle.
Business owners in Flinders St say the numbers of homeless are increasing daily as more beggars look to cash in on the generosity of international and interstate guests.
Nathan J, from Scissors on Flinders, said the problem was getting worse.
“It is affecting my business. A lot of people won’t cross the road to reach this side of Flinders St because they feel it’s too dangerous,” he said.
“It’s a very bad look for the whole of Australia, not just Melbourne. It’s such a shame.
“I have a lot of problems with people sleeping in my doorway,” he said.
“Every morning I have to wake them up and tell them to move. Then I have to clean up around the door, which is very annoying.”
Many overseas visitors said they had been shocked by the sights they had seen on Melbourne’s beggar-lined streets.
On Monday, as a stream of tennis fans filed past Federation Square to get to night games, two people openly shared a bong before they passed out.
On Tuesday, there was further evidence of illegal drug use, despite occasional visits from police.
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The Salvation Army’s Major Brendan Nottle said the closure of several caravan parks and rooming houses over the past year had led many rough sleepers to head to the inner city, where they also felt safer.
“They know there’s CCTV coverage there, there’s better lighting, and they’ve got quick access to police if they need it,” he said.
Maj Nottle said that the Salvos and other agencies were often dealing with people who had serious addiction and mental health problems.
One rough sleeper, who called himself The Russian, said he had been living on the streets for two years.
This followed the breakup of his relationship.
The Russian said that on Saturday, while he was sleeping out on Swanston Street, he was attacked.
“Two guys beat me while I was asleep and stole all of my belongings,” he said.
“I’m getting plenty of water today, but not much money,” he said of his begging efforts.
“Thankfully, I’m smart enough not to sleep in Flinders St. Too many people are sleeping there, so of course the council are going to move them on,” he said.
“But where can they go?
“Like you say, everyone has a story,” he said.
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