Q&A with WA Treasurer and Aboriginal Affairs Minister Ben Wyatt

Q1. When was the minister advised about the potential problems with tent city and by whom?

“The activities of the Pioneer Park camp organisers became an issue as soon as it became clear that activity at Pioneer park had shifted from a single day event to people camping overnight.”

Q2. When did the minister and/or Government contact the City of Fremantle about its concerns and was closure discussed at that time?

“Community Services Minister Simone McGurk raised concerns with the City about the Pioneer Park camp organisers’ motives and potential for the camp to become an intractable public safety issue (based on experience at the Lord Street camp in East Perth and observations of a similar camp in Sydney) on January 3.
“The Department of Communities was in regular contact with the City as the situation progressed.
“In light of the City of Fremantle’s failure to withdraw their consent to the occupancy of Pioneer Park in a reasonable timeframe, the State Government took the necessary action late last week to protect the community.
“It was in the public interest, and in the interest of the vulnerable people who were being taken advantage of by the activists and organisers of the camp, for the State Government to intervene.”

Q3. What exactly were the minister’s concerns over this camp? Were the homeless people used as political ‘footballs’?

“It was extremely disappointing to see the activists and organisers of the camp taking advantage of vulnerable people.
“Encouraging vulnerable people to congregate in this way, and in some cases luring people away from their established accommodation, is irresponsible and risky.
“Organisers and volunteers at the camp were not trained in ways to support vulnerable people, and were only providing meals to the occupants – no outreach, referrals to services or professional supports were being offered.
“By the admission of the activists and professional protestors behind the camp, the motivation was political from the beginning.
“Putting vulnerable people and the community at risk in this way is not an effective or compassionate way to make a political point.”

Q4. The minister told The West today it might be time Brad Pettitt stepped down as Mayor to campaign full time. Dr Pettitt has been campaigning since Xmas, yet continues to be Mayor. Does this ‘conflict’ concern the minister?

“I understand that Dr Pettit is intending to step back from his duties as Mayor to pursue his campaign – this is well overdue.”

Q5. Is the minister confident most of the people at tent city will be housed properly, and with dignity?

“Department of Communities staff and the homelessness services sector continue to provide wraparound support to vulnerable people who have been placed in hotel and motel accommodation, alongside their efforts to move them into appropriate accommodation.
“Their meals are also being paid for and support services are being provided to help meet peoples’ specific requirements – this may include getting ID, settling their Centrelink payments or benefits, or linking them with critical supports such as drug or alcohol or mental health services.
“The government’s work with service providers to leverage existing resources and ensure that available accommodation is matched with the necessary wraparound supports is ongoing.”