The New South Wales government paid for a homeless man in Wagga Wagga to be sent back to New Zealand instead of offering him temporary accommodation, in an attempt to move on residents living in an encampment by a river. The local council and state government have been attempting to clear out the encampment for several months after a newborn baby died in May when its mother gave birth to twins in a tent. Residents of the encampment have faced increasing pressure to move on, including “compliance action” requests for them to leave or be fined up to $1,100.
Advocates said at least four people have been fined about $110 for not moving on in time. The council has denied fining people “on the basis of where they are staying”. Mark Hudson, 53, said he has permanent residency in Australia and is therefore entitled to temporary accommodation.
He arrived 18 years ago, but does not have a Visa Entitlement Verification Online – to prove permanent residency. Despite this, Homes NSW repeatedly offered him a flight back to New Zealand, where he has not lived for over 18 years. She just kept on … ‘You want the flight?
You want the flight?’” This week, they booked the flight to Sydney and then Auckland, at a cost to the taxpayer of $1,797. On Thursday the international flight was cancelled by the airline, and Hudson, who has a girlfriend in Wagga, and is about to take custody of his granddaughter, is still in Wagga. He also has a dog he does not want to leave.
They were like, we’ll sort the tickets out, we’ll arrange it again … But I’ve got my granddaughter now.” On Friday, after Guardian Australia contacted the NSW government, Hudson was offered accommodation, which he is expected to move into next week. And it was just the approach was always bully tactics,” he said. A spokesperson for Homes NSW said it has been working with people facing housing insecurity in the area since April.
It confirmed travel costs, including air fares, were one of the support options available. His death exposed a gap in federal and state responses to homelessness for people who lose their visa status or are unable to prove permanent residency. NSW residents need to prove permanent residency to access social housing, normally through Centrelink payments.
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