How You Can Help Promote Community Safety

• Complete the Have Your Say survey which mentions Cr Hardy’s motion at the very end – see link below.
• Participate in the pop-up feedback sessions – see details in the link below
• Participate in the workshops – see details in the link below.

The online survey mentions Cr Hardy’s motion at the end of a long survey that takes about 10-15 minutes to complete. However, respondents can provide feedback throughout the survey on the encampments and the need to change the camping laws. Local laws that allow alcohol and drug-affected people to live on our streets are the real issues.

The Key Messages

1. Victoria Police say they cannot effectively deal with antisocial and abusive behaviours on our streets unless Councillors vote to change camping laws and failure to change the camping laws will only see more bad behaviours linked to encampments on our streets.
2. The Council’s community safety plan is not adequate and must be updated to incorporate the new Local Laws for camping which give Police the powers to remove troublesome people and their belonging from the streets without criminalising or fining them.
3. The problem will only continue get worse if Council does nothing. The current camping laws exemptions including people with complex needs such as drug and alcohol abuse and addictions enable bad behaviours on our streets.
4. People with complex needs should not be left on the streets to fall prey to violent drug dealers and fellow rough sleepers. These people need the support of the agencies that are funded to help them. Why are the service providers doing their jobs?
5. Changes to the local laws are essential for the amenity and economic development of our once dynamic retail and dining precincts.

Complete the online survey at the link below:

https://haveyoursay.portphillip.vic.gov.au/feel-safe-be-safe?mc_cid=ac7402f5e5&mc_eid=097b7ecd12