WA:Homeless to be housed during CHOGM

AAP General News (Australia)
04-08-2011
WA:Homeless to be housed during CHOGM

PERTH, April 8 AAP - West Australian Community Services Minister Robyn McSweeney says
homeless people forced to move out of the Perth CBD during CHOGM will be found accommodation.

Ms McSweeney gave the assurances after Police Minister Rob Johnson mocked questions
by the opposition, seeking to know what the arrangements would be for homeless people
during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in October.

In a debate on proposed laws to give police greater powers during CHOGM, Labor MP Bill
Johnston had sought answers on what would happen to homeless people moved out of the CBD.

In reply, Mr Johnson (Johnson) told parliament on Thursday: "Well, they would have
to sleep somewhere else for the night, won't they? I'll give them a tent and a cushion
- what a stupid question."

He later added: "Where do you live? We'll send them round to your house if you're really
concerned".

Ms McSweeney confirmed on Friday homeless people would be moved away from Perth's CBD
during CHOGM, but they would be assisted into non-government organisation accommodation.

"During the CHOGM event, if that occurs, they will be put into a non-government agency's
hands and they will be helped," she said.

"That will be any homeless person we find within that area," Ms McSweeney said.

She said CHOGM might prove to be a "catalyst" in finding out who the homeless people
living in the Perth CBD were and to get them some permanent help and support.

Ms McSweeney refused to condemn Mr Johnson's comments, saying she was sure he was not
mocking the issue.

But Director of Social Policy at the WA Council of Social Services (WACOSS) Irina Cattalini
said the response by Mr Johnson was a concern.

"We would expect to have a more compassionate and sensitive approach to homeless issues
in any respect, let alone a government initiative which is causing greater dislocation,"

Ms Cattalini told AAP.

Ms Cattalini said WACOSS had sought a meeting with the government to discuss the extent
of the impact that the exclusion zone during CHOGM would have on homeless people and inner
city services.

She said the discussions would need to happen soon as it would take at least a couple
of months before CHOGM to arrange accommodation for relocated homeless people.

"We may need more than that depending on what kind and how much extra accommodation
is going to be needed to be found because we know accommodation is already going to be
stretched," Ms Cattalini said.

"When you're looking for short-term crisis accommodation, you turn to the lower end
hotels and motels in the outer areas.

"That may or may not be available because of the pressure on the hotel sector in Perth
during that period."

CHOGM will be held from October 28 to 30.

AAP jsj/ajw

KEYWORD: HOMELESS

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