By David Jones | Public Affairs and Policy Manager, Business Sydney | Mob: 0448 285 996
The tragic death of a homeless man living in a pedestrian subway at St James railway station in the Sydney CBD today prompted a call for the complete overall of the protocol governing official interaction with rough sleepers.
Business Sydney Executive Director Paul Nicolaou said the death of the 32-year-old former Nepalese international student amounted to the breakdown of a protocol where rough sleepers are to be approached only if they are a danger to themselves or others.
The hands-off approach had led to encampments of rough sleepers throughout the CBD and areas close to the heart of tte city.
Mr Nicolaou called for the urgent establishment of a CBD Safety and Care Taskforce, bringing together government, business, transport authorities and community organisations to ensure better monitoring of high-risk areas and faster welfare responses.
One of hundreds of people sleeping rough in the city, the body of the former student was found days after his death in bushes in Hyde Park in an area where hundreds of people pass by on a daily basis.
“Action is needed to ensure that no one else falls victim to such a disturbingly tragic death,” Mr Nicolaou said.
“It should start with the complete rewriting of the protocol drafted more than 25 years ago to define how government agencies should deal with people living in the street.
“The protocol is no longer fit for service. The former student’s death is a confronting reminder that even in the heart of a global city, people can fall through the cracks, unseen and unsupported.
“This is not simply a housing issue — it is a shocking systems failure.
“No one in Sydney should be left without access to basic support regardless of their circumstances.
“When vulnerable individuals, particularly those on temporary visas or without access to government assistance, are excluded from the system, the risks are profound and, as we have seen, can be fatal.
“As the voice of the business community, we believe Sydney must respond with practical, coordinated action.”
A targeted safety net was also needed for those currently locked out of support services, including temporary access to accommodation, healthcare and case management.
“This is not about long-term welfare, it is about basic dignity and public safety,” Mr Nicolaou said.
“In recent years, Business Sydney has repeatedly called for a more effective approach to homelessness.
“Sydney is one of the world’s great cities but incidents such as the unnoticed death of the former international student damage our social fabric and our international reputation.
“We cannot allow another person to die alone and unnoticed on our streets.”
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David is a Walkley Award-winning journalist with a distinguished career spanning more than half a century in print, television and radio journalism, political and corporate affairs and high-level media relations including incident and issues management. Media Enquiries - David Jones M: 0448 285 996