Homeless people on the Gold Coast are having their belongings, including clothes, blankets and identification, confiscated by council workers.
Richard, one of hundreds of people living on the streets in the Coolangatta area, keeps what he has in a trolley and moves around regularly, trying to stay unnoticed and not bother anyone. Richard says he and his friends have had to resort to taking shifts to look after their possessions to avoid being targeted.
John Lee, the founder of homeless service You Have A Friend, said “it is a common problem. They see the vans coming and they come and take it. They're treating them like animals. These guys are extremely distraught — that's all of their possessions. They're worried about things like their ID, driver's license and crucial paperwork”
According to the Gold Coast council, items considered "a public health risk" or "abandoned" are to be removed from public spaces.