Darwin Council has faced pressure from Labor MLAs to crack down on people sleeping rough in Darwin, brought about in part by the Fyles Government’s own remote alcohol bans, leading council to issue fines of more than $160 to people sleeping in public areas, which homeless advocates and council itself say will not solve the crime problem.
Darwin Council said in a statement that it had fined “illegal campers” in Fannie Bay after they “refused to cooperate” with council staff, but claimed its approach to enforcing it’s bylaws has not changed, but acknowledged the Labor MLAs had pressured them to increase the number of fines.
Turning no idea into an utterly ridiculous idea. The government is putting lipstick on a pig. Address the reason that those people are there and organise suitable accommodation at Howard Springs or wherever they can.
Adding insult to injury is not helpful. The people impacted have no other choice it would appear. In partnership with social service agencies (Salvos, Vinnies et. al.), perhaps the NTG could establish protected zones in some of their parklands around the greater Darwin CBD.