‘Pretty chill’: Awkward detail in major crackdown on homeless tent cities

A week after a crackdown on people sleeping in tents on public land and giving them 24 hours to relocate, the community can only notice one thing.

Not one fine or move-on order has been issued in the week since Brisbane City Council declared it would evict homeless campers from its parks.

Brisbane City Council announced in March it would be following the City of Moreton Bay council by banning homeless people from camping on public land, including Musgrave Park and Kurilpa Point Park near the Gallery of Modern Art, giving people 24 hours to relocate.

If they failed to move away from the public land, police and state housing agencies would be required to relocate them.

A week after homeless people were ordered to relocate from tent cities in Brisbane, not a single fine has been issued. Picture: NewsWire / Glenn Campbell

However, a week after the new laws were put in place, the ABC reported the council verbally told four people to leave the public space but had yet to issue any compliance or infringement notices.

A Brisbane City Council spokesperson told the outlet an oral complaint notice would be issued to homeless people, which is recognised as a “formal request” for them to move off the public land.

So far, the joint operation between Department of Housing, Police, Queensland Health and the council have focused on Davies Park in West End, Brighton and Decker parks in Brighton, and Curlew and Einbunpin Lagoon parks in Sandgate.

A Brisbane City Council spokesperson told NewsWire the council has long prohibited camping in parks, but it does not have move-on powers and would only ask people to move on if they refused accommodation or assistance from the state government Department of Housing.

“Brisbane residents have grown increasingly concerned about the violence, drug use and anti-social behaviour occurring in tent encampments in parks,” they said.

“As a result, we’re working more closely with the Department of Housing, Police and Queensland Health to ensure people are moved from these unsafe encampments and into safe accommodation.

“If a person refuses an offer of accommodation or assistance from the Department of Housing then Police can ask them to move on.”

A Queensland Police spokesperson told NewsWire it would “assist the Brisbane City Council during their engagements with rough sleepers to make sure all persons, including both rough sleepers and council employees, are kept safe”.

Despite this, residents claim they have not been issued any infringements.

The council spokesperson told NewsWire it would not issue infringement notices to those asked to move on.

A homeless man was confronted by a ‘pretty chill’ compliance officer but wasn’t fined. Picture: Dan Peled / NewsWire

Connor O’Sullivan, a homeless man who lives in Brisbane, told the outlet he was evicted from crisis accommodation last Wednesday and had been living in Musgrave Park, one of the public spaces targeted in the crackdown.

Despite living in the public park, Mr Sullivan said he was only confronted by a police liaison officer who was “actually pretty chill”.

“(The officer) let me know there was probably going to be a move-on,” he said.

“She actually seemed kind of sad because she likes some of the people here.”

In October, Brisbane City Council shut the power off to two tent cities in South Brisbane, citing safety concerns and anti-social behaviour, cutting electricity to operate barbecues and charge personal devices.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the crackdown was a necessary step for improving public safety.

“Just like our northern neighbours, Brisbane residents don’t want their parks and public spaces becoming dangerous no-go zones because of violent, aggressive and anti-social behaviour,” he said in early March.

“We won’t let Brisbane turn into the San Francisco Bay area where encampments have grown out of control and become magnets for crime, violence and illegal drugs.”

More than 60 compliance notices have been issued for homeless people in City of Moreton Bay but no fines. Picture: NewsWire / Glenn Campbell

The neighbouring City of Moreton Bay council, which issued a similar edict, has so far given out more than 60 compliance notices, but no fines.

In February, the council announced it would make it illegal for homeless people to camp or sleep on public ground.

Since introducing the tough measures on unhoused people, the council said it had issued 64 written compliance notices to those camping on public land.

No fines have been issued yet, a City of Moreton Bay spokesperson told the ABC.

The change came into effect on March 12, and those who fail to comply risk a fine of up to $8065.

The crackdown came after the council, in December 2024, banned homeless people from keeping pets or sleeping in vans or cars.

“Due to the actions of some, and that number is growing daily, a number of our public spaces have become unsafe or inaccessible to residents and our staff,” Mayor Peter Flannery said.

“This is unacceptable and I will not stand for it any longer.

“Our communities have been patient and compassionate, but enough is enough.”

NewsWire has contacted the Brisbane City Council and City of Moreton Bay for comment.