A public debate has erupted over a decision by Moreland council, in Melbourne鈥檚 inner-north, to install armrests on benches outside Coburg Library.
Homelessness
Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) campaign coordinator Pas Forgione outlined why a campaign to 鈥淩aise the rate鈥 of the Newstart unemployment benefit is desperately needed, at a June 15 community forum in Sydney鈥檚 west.
More support services may not have saved Courtney Herron鈥檚 life. But surely she, and other vulnerable people, have a right to expect more support, writes Sue Bull.
Statistics released by the Australian Bureau of Stastics on July 24 show 28,600 or 16.5% of people experiencing homelessness in Australia have full-time jobs.
The figures also show more than one-third of homeless people aged over 15 are employed in some capacity.
A total of 61,500 people are employed in some way, but their wages do not pay enough to put a roof over their head.
Nearly half the homeless population 鈥 45.6% 鈥 is either in work or looking for work, and the unemployment rate for people experiencing homelessness is 22.5%.
In a dawn raid on May 4, about 20 police descended on protesters, who had set up tents on the lawn in front of Hobart鈥檚 Parliament House to protest the state government鈥檚 lack of response to Hobart鈥檚 housing crisis, and ordered them to move on.
Housing is a basic human right, but under neoliberal capitalism it has become a privilege enjoyed by fewer and fewer people.
After more than six months camped outside the Reserve Bank building in Martin Place, and following months of negotiations between the state government and the City of Sydney Council, the homeless occupants of Sydney鈥檚 tent city began packing up their belongings on August 11.
The man often called the 鈥淢ayor of Martin Place鈥, Lanz Priestley, said some camp dwellers were moving to 鈥渇riend鈥檚 places鈥 or 鈥渇riend鈥檚 backyards鈥, but some 鈥渄on鈥檛 have anywhere to go鈥.
Last week was Homelessness Week. It was also the week when the 76 homeless people sleeping in Martin Place were removed聽by the NSW Coalition government.
Sydney City Council has, at least, defended the 鈥渢ent city鈥 and taken a more pro-active role in trying to find solutions, compared with the NSW government which simply wants to wash its hands of this enormous problem.
Many councils across Australia have local laws that restrict free speech. Most people are unaware of these laws, until there is an issue that engages them enough to want to exercise their right to free speech and set up a stall, hand out leaflets, get petitions signed and maybe organise a protest rally.
Only when a council officer tells them they have to pack up and leave, do they realise there are undemocratic laws on the books.
Peter Cundall turns 90
Peter Cundall鈥檚 90th birthday on April 1 was celebrated in Hobart with 鈥淧ete鈥檚 Picnic鈥, a public picnic in the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens.
Born in Manchester to a poverty-stricken family in 1927, Cundall migrated to Tasmania in 1956.
He became a household name as the host of ABC TV鈥檚 Gardening Australia but his love of nature also led him to become an environmental activist.
He was involved with protests against the Franklin Dam in the 1970s and 鈥80s.
A public forum on March 17 discussed the implications of Melbourne City Council's proposed amendments to Activities Local Law 2009.
The changes would broaden the definition of 鈥渃amping鈥 to mean people currently sleeping rough could be forcibly moved on by police and face fines for possessing a piece of cardboard or bedding. The city of Melbourne would be effectively criminalising homelessness.
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