Des Houghton: It’s time to tear down our tent cities

Strolling to my club in the city the other day, I was peeved to see a homeless encampment on the footpath in front of me. Tent cities are springing up everywhere. It’s time to tear them down, writes Des Houghton.

Strolling to my club in the city the other day, I was quite peeved when I had to step around sleeping bags at a homeless encampment on the footpath in front of the GPO in Queen St.

Some battlers are doing it tough finding rental accommodation and I especially feel for those on single mum’s pensions.

Tent cities are springing up across Australia. Some seem cosy with fold-up tables and deck chairs. It’s time to tear them down.

Across Europe tent cities are where you go to buy drugs.

I fear Labor governments at state and federal level are paying lip service to the rental crisis.

How else can you explain why the 500-bed Pinkenba quarantine centre sits empty.

Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon insists she has put a proposal to the federal
government.

However, she won’t show it to us and the feds can’t find it.

The failure of the state governments to provide enough public housing is part of the wider problem, of course.

The massive migration intake has added to housing shortage with new arrivals jumping the queue for public housing places.

Originally published as Des Houghton: It’s time to tear down our tent cities