Homelessness – society's great shame

July 11, 2026

Thank you, Fabian Webber, for stating the basic truths about homelessness in plain succinct language.

The political response to homelessness (from overcrowding and couch-surfing to living on the streets) over the last three or four decades has been absolutely disgraceful. As has the public lack of outrage – contrast it, for instance, with the (unfortunately all-too-often successful) public backlash to various policies that have sought to marginally reduce various private and corporate lurks.

One of the most staggering developments is that it is now generally accepted as normal that people don’t just sleep in shop doorways, under awnings, in bus shelters and playing field pavilions etc., but that they establish some semblance of a home (for want of a more appropriate word) there, where they leave their belongings throughout the 24 hours.

How is it that Australian society has become so uncaring and Australian politicians and government officials so bereft of both humanity, competence and ideas?

Shame on us all.