A homeless man was Tasered by police after attempting to take his own life during a tent city clearance in Queensland. The incident has prompted calls for mental health considerations when dealing with move-on orders amid the state's homelessness crisis.
On 1 September, Moreton Bay city council rangers instructed six homeless residents, including the 48-year-old man, identified as Martin*, to vacate Pelican Park north of Brisbane within 24 hours. Martin, who has prostate cancer, had been living in a camper trailer in the park, which was being cleared for a kite festival.
Martin stated he was unable to comply with the order due to having lost his driver's licence. He told rangers he would rather die than lose his possessions, and subsequently stabbed himself in the neck with a knife. Police then used a Taser on him at least twice.
A spokesperson for the Queensland police said officers attempted to de-escalate the situation and disarm Martin, and applied immediate first aid for his self-inflicted injury. The police force stated its commitment to providing officers with mental health training.
Local homeless advocate Beau Haywood, founder of Nourish Street, suggested the incident highlights potential issues with an enforcement-led approach to homelessness. Haywood called for Moreton Bay to halt homeless clearances until they can be shown to be safe and legal.
Martin was taken to the Royal Brisbane and Women's hospital for surgery and saw a mental health worker before being discharged the next day. He has not been seen by a health professional since his discharge, and his circumstances have not changed, with no housing or alternative accommodation offered.