Civil Disobedience !

The cluster of homeless people who have pitched their tents  in the centre of Sydney is a classical example of civil disobedience which appears to be politically motivated.  The fact that each and every " squatter " in the commercial heart of the city is residing in the same type and configuration of one person tent, scrupulously maintained at a regimented distance from each other looks more like a military encampment than a spontaneous gathering of people down on their luck.

It is also shaping up to become an interesting confrontation between the Lord Mayor and the state premier. The premier is demanding that the council take action to remove what is really an obstacle to the movement of people through public space - and the council is responding that it lacks the law to demand people " move on " - which is the prerogative of the government police force.

The homeless people are playing a canny game.  Their camp is high profile media and it will draw public sympathy.  They claim that there is safety in numbers and statistics prove their case.  There have been events where people sleeping in their cars have been bashed or murdered and even the harassment of those sleeping under bridges and in public places seems to be common.

There is also a regimentation that is very apparent at this tent camp in the city.  The residents seem to rely on buying in food and are very careful to maintain a high degree of order.   No cooking on the footpath.  Everything carefully put away within the actual tent area.  They are careful to make their way to public toilets.  The scene is one of neatness - and it is very tidy.

It is claimed that offers of alternative accommodation to those in this camp have been refused and that tends to illustrate the political motivation underpinning what is really a form of protest.  Not only has the price of homes in Australia moved out of reach of many ordinary people, the rental market is unable to provide shelter for the working poor. It is claimed that the transition to " homeless " can occur with startling rapidity when rental availability falls below the demand level.

It is certainly not a good look to have this transit camp right in the city.  If the police move in and force people out it will create a repugnant spectacle of heartlessness and yet providing an alternative site somewhere out of sight could create a permanent slum that would quickly become an eyesore. That is a solution neither side of politics wants on their conscience.

It seems that the protest movement in Australia has discovered the advantage of moving political issues into the arena of " public theatre ".   Played out before the television cameras issues nag at the public conscience and the unfortunates of this world get their five minutes of fame.

Like the " Yellow Umbrella " protests of Hong Kong, this test of wills will be decided in the public domain.