‘Anarchists’ take over Fremantle ‘tent city’: Premier
WA Premier Mark McGowan said “anarchists” are taking advantage of disadvantaged people camped since December 23 at ‘tent city’ in Fremantle.
Mr McGowan said many of the people at Pioneer Park already had accommodation and services available to them and criticised organisers of using “professional protestors” to push their agenda.
Locals and social media critics accused the Mayor and Greens candidate for South Metro Brad Pettitt and City Ward Councillor Rachel Pemberton of having reportedly given verbal approval for a food kitchen to operate for one day without council or health department permits.
The City says it has not approved an ongoing camp, but continues to provide water, power and portaloos. The unauthorised camp is run by unregistered group Fremantle Street Kitchen, whose organiser Jessie Noakes was arrested last year for trespassing during an Extinction Rebellion protest outside the offices of The West Australian.
“There are professional protestors organising people to go to that camp,” Mr McGowan said. “The professional protestors who organised it are often people from organisations like Extinction Rebellion, basically anarchists and they are coordinating this as some sort of protest movement. I urge organisers to stop exploiting vulnerable people.”
Mr McGowan urged people to access existing services, including in Fremantle, adding Labor was spending $100 million a year to boost services for the homeless.
Opposition leader Zak Kirkup said the Liberal Party will deliver 100 new secure beds for Fremantle as part of a plan to provide safe crisis accommodation and long-term housing for WA’s homeless.
Mr Kirkup today visited tent city where he condemned the McGowan Government of sitting on billions of dollars of revenue while the growing homeless problem stared it in the face.
Fremantle Liberal candidate Miquela Riley said on her Facebook page that residents, business owners and visitors to Fremantle had contacted her concerned over the makeshift camp established just a stone’s throw from the office of Labor member and Community Services Minister Simone McGurk. Ms Riley claimed Labor had no plan and called on elected members to hold a special electors meeting. Ms McGurk said ‘tent city’ denied people access to vital services.
Unfortunately, camp organisers are digging in, calling on the public to provide food, clothes and other essentials as people continue to arrive and pitch tents outside Spare Puppets Theatre opposite the Fremantle train station.
Police also have set up CCTV overlooking the public park following complaints about anti-social behaviour, drinking and drug abuse. On Sunday, police were called to the park when violence broke out after a concert held there earlier in the day.
Street Friends founder Ruth Marshall posted on Facebook yesterday: “With over seven years experience of working with the homeless, I can tell you if they are leaving other services to go to this camp, it shows they are leaving to go to a lawless camp.”
St Patricks is the endorsed charity supported by the City.
