UPDATE: The camping ban motion has passed. There will be 28 days of public consultation and the Lord Mayor hasn't ruled out changing his mind.
A homeless man has lashed out at Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle, threatening to start a riot as the council considered a proposed ban on public camping.
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Over 100 turn up to fiery homeless meeting
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About 150 people attended a meeting on Tuesday night at Swanston Hall to consider an outright ban on public camping within the City of Melbourne. Vision courtesy Seven News Melbourne.
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Over 100 turn up to fiery homeless meeting
About 150 people attended a meeting on Tuesday night at Swanston Hall to consider an outright ban on public camping within the City of Melbourne. Vision courtesy Seven News Melbourne.
The man, who said he was "homeless and mentally ill", broke with protocol in the first few minutes of the City of Melbourne meeting, using a period set aside for public questions to make a statement.
He said homeless people gathered in Melbourne because it was where all the services were, and that it was a full-time job to manage appointments to get housing.
When thanked by Cr Doyle for his submission, he lashed out, saying his statement was not a submission, it was "fact".
"If we want a riot, we will give you a f--king riot," he said. "F--k you."
He then raised his finger in a rude gesture to councillors before storming out, prompting Cr Doyle to say he hoped that the encounter was not an indication of how the meeting would continue.
"I sincerely hope that is not the tenor of the way we deal with each other," Cr Doyle said.
Another speaker, Rebecca, broke down while addressing councillors, saying she was homeless for the third time due to family violence, but was lucky enough to have a car to sleep in.
She said she was about to start an honours degree at Victoria University and wanted to become a registered psychologist.
"I feel disempowered, vulnerable, insecure and scared," she said.
Lucy Adams, Homeless Law, says “we know that a law this broad will push people to the outskirts of the city and away from services”.
— Aisha Dow (@aishamae) February 7, 2017
Getting very emotional here with the Greens attempt to remove camping ban provision voted down. @theage pic.twitter.com/tknXTAz2uB
— Aisha Dow (@aishamae) February 7, 2017
Some people entering the council meeting at 5.30pm on Tuesday were asked to leave their bags at the door.
A number of police officers were stationed in front of the Town Hall, keeping an eye on a small protest organised by the Homeless Persons Union.
About 150 people were at the meeting, which was move to a bigger venue after intense public interest.
The meeting was called to consider an outright ban on public camping within the City of Melbourne, which covers 15 inner-city suburbs including the CBD, Carlton, Docklands, East Melbourne, Kensington and part of South Yarra.
As it stands, camping is only illegal in the city if people use a vehicle, tent or other temporary structure.
The City of Melbourne insists the camping ban is not a ban on homelessness, but have not been able to explain if it would become illegal for people to sleep on the streets, with or without bedding, under the new definition.
"Whether camping is occurring would be based on judgment call by the relevant authorised officer based on the facts observed at the time," a council spokesman said.
Legal experts have been critical of the proposal, saying the expanded camping ban could be enforced against people sleeping in swags or blankets.
"It's not a choice to live like that and I think we should as a community be a lot more tolerant and a little bit compassionate," criminal law specialist Melinda Walker said.
"The homelessness may be pushed out into the inner suburbs, but I don't think the problem is resolved from simply moving them away for heavy pedestrian areas."
You can follow Aisha Dow on Twitter.