2016/07: Should fines and/or imprisonment be imposed on those who beg in the streets of Australian cities?
Introduction to the media issue
Video clip at right:On May 18, 2016, 3AW interviewed Melbourne's Lord Mayor, Robert Doyle, on what action could be taken regarding the homeless people camping in Melbourne's City Square. If you cannot see this clip, it will be because video is blocked by your network. To view the clip, access from home or from a public library, or from another network which allows viewing of video clips.
What they said...
'We're certainly not the sort of city...who gathers those who are homeless and those who are begging and simply buses them out of sight and out of mind'
Melbourne's Lord Mayor, Robert Doyle
'Anyone who sees such behaviour [from violent or aggressive beggars] should contact police. It is not illegal to be homeless but it is also reasonable to expect to be able to walk through the world's most liveable city without being threatened, abused or harassed'
Melbourne's Lord Mayor, Robert Doyle
The issue at a glance
In the second week of May, 2016, Victoria Police focused their attention on areas of the Melbourne CBD, possibly partially in response to a series of Herald Sun reports suggesting that aggressive street beggars were becoming a problem.
The police action was followed by a protest taken by some twenty homeless people who established a camp in Melbourne's City Square, demanding long-term accommodation. The protesters, who were ultimately dispersed, rejected an offer of up to three months' housing and health services, as they wanted a more permanent solution.
This interaction is only the most recent in a series of policy shifts on the part of the Melbourne City Council around how best to deal with Melbourne's street beggars.
The problem is one found in most Australian states and capital cities. Recent reports have indicated that begging offences in South Australia have reached a five-year high.
Various cities in Western Australia, where street begging is generally not illegal, are considering whether harsher measures should be introduced. The Western Australian city of Freemantle has now banned street beggars and instead is installing 'change points', which are collection depots that look like parking metres. All money raised will be redirected to local welfare agencies to assist homeless people.