Why Tom Elliott has ‘mixed feelings’ on the decriminalisation of begging

0:00But look, it's not all good news today for Melbourne and something that well we'll get some advice on this We're going to speak to the LORD MAYOR after nine Nicholas Reese The criminal offense of begging Is is going to be decriminalized in Victoria. So it brings us into line with with other states like w a new south Wales and tazie and the act I mixed feelings on this. I remember almost 40 years ago when I went to live in the UK for a cup of years I was shocked at how many beggars they were and I was shocked because I remember thinking We don't really have beggars in Australia like we we seem to take care of people and um, you know Initially I'd give them money and then someone said to me look you know It's it's really no point giving them money The fact that begging is technically a criminal offense in this state I think it's one of those laws that we don't actually prosecute. I mean let's be honest If you walk around the seabed day There are beggars everywhere and I don't see them being arrested or moved on by the police

1:02And I'm not a fan of laws that we don't enforce Because if you don't enforce that law or someone might say well what about this law and this law and this law You know so either get laws off the statute books if we don't enforce them or enforce them But if we do criminalize begging chances are we'll have even more beggars in the seabed day And that is the exact opposite of what the city of Melbourne wants Melbourne is trying to clean up attack like today. We are showing our best face to the world You know 20 million Americans will watch today's game on TV and thousands of traveled all the way over here And it's a lengthy trip even from the west coast So we're putting our best foot forward to show Melbourne to the world Much as we do with the Grand Prix in the Australian Open and we want to make the most of it And having beggars everywhere is not a good look Anyway one level three six times three We're going to speak to the Lord me and Nicholas race after nine But uh, I It's one of those ones where As I said, I don't like begging. I feel that our social services

2:06You know the welfare that sort of thing Should mean that people don't have to beg that if what they really want You know, he's a meal and somewhere to stay we can probably provide that Perhaps unfairly often think of beggars as begging for money to buy drugs But that's me being perhaps a bit uncharitable One level three six nine three mornings at three aw. Don't controversy You would I do know this if we want to attract more people to spend money into the CBD Having more beggars is not I repeat not the way to do it