Brisbane Enforces 24-Hour Eviction of Homeless from City Parks

The city council plans to remove park encampments, citing public safety concerns, while critics argue the housing crisis leaves few viable alternatives.

• Brisbane City Council has initiated a 24-hour deadline for homeless individuals to vacate public parks, with empty tents to be removed to prevent encampments.
• Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner stated that most rough sleepers refused offers of temporary accommodation provided during Cyclone Alfred preparations.
• Advocacy groups and critics argue that many homeless individuals were not offered suitable housing, with temporary options deemed unsafe or unsustainable.
• The crackdown follows a similar policy in Moreton Bay, where camping on public land was criminalized, raising concerns of displaced individuals relocating to Brisbane.
• The issue highlights Queensland's broader housing crisis, with nearly 48,000 people on the social housing waitlist and a shortage of affordable long-term rentals.

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Brisbane Times The Age Australian Broadcasting Corporation