Cameras installed in Musgrave Park, as focus turns to housing policies

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has defended the council decision to install CCTV cameras at Musgrave Park, days after cutting power to the site, to improve community safety and prevent further damage to local amenities.

On Monday, Brisbane City Council announced it would cut electricity to Kurilpa Point and Musgrave Park – where some of the city’s growing homeless population are living in tents – following reports of anti-social behaviour, violence and vandalism.

On Thursday morning, the council announced new fixed and mobile cameras around the park, which Schrinner hoped would help deter problematic behaviour.

Brisbane council has turned off the power at two inner-city parks following reports of anti-social behaviour. Credit: Brisbane City Council

“We’ve made the decision to install these cameras in Musgrave Park due to escalating reports of stabbings, drug use and fires in the tent encampment,” he said.

“This situation is simply not acceptable.

“I’m hopeful that these cameras will act as a deterrent to violence, and will help authorities respond more effectively.”

Extra CCTV cameras were promised as part of the LNP council’s re-election campaign in March, with 10 new fixed cameras to be installed during the first year as part of the Safer Suburbs initiative.

Musgrave Park was one of the locations proposed following community feedback and police consultation.

The news involving the encampment has thrust south-east Queensland’s housing crisis and the lack of supply into the spotlight days out from Saturday’s state election.

Musgrave Park is squarely placed in the debate, with its large homeless population surrounded by suburbs earmarked for development, including a proposed new high-rise apartment building in South Brisbane under the Kurilpa Precinct Master Plan.

Greens MP Amy MacMahon says Adrian Schrinner has been lord mayor of Brisbane while the housing crisis has unfolded.Credit: South Brisbane Electorate Office

In his announcement, Schrinner criticised the Greens’ opposition to CCTV cameras and growth in the area, calling them “the same politicians that routinely oppose the construction of much-needed new homes in areas like Kurilpa and West End”.

Greens South Brisbane representative Amy MacMahon responded by reiterating the party’s calls for rent caps and more public housing.

“My team and I have been pushing the government every single day to get local rough sleepers housed. But for every person we get housed, rising rents push another person out into sleeping rough,” MacMahon said.

“Adrian Schrinner has been the lord mayor for five years, he’s been in one of the most powerful positions in Queensland while this housing crisis has unfolded, so it’s a bit rich of him to blame the Greens.

“His policy of leaving the supply of housing up to private developers and giving them massive handouts has categorically failed.

“Take the example of a backpackers that was recently demolished in West End. People who were struggling to find an affordable rental often rented beds or rooms in it for a few months.

“Now the apartments being built on the site are being advertised for more than $2 million each. I don’t think new multimillion-dollar apartments are going to do anything to help with the housing crisis.”

As the campaign nears its end, Labor and the LNP took the opportunity to push their housing policies in the final hours.

Labor emphasised their Homes for Queenslanders plan and commitment to deliver “1 million more homes, including 53,500 more social homes” by 2046.

The LNP pledged to meet the same target, but by 2044, and has promised to establish a $2 billion fund to help councils build infrastructure for developments.

Schrinner and Opposition Leader David Crisafulli have both said they would work together if the LNP controls two levels of government after the weekend.

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