Sydney homeless 'tent city' packs up after new law

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A homeless tent city in the heart of Sydney was being dismantled Friday, after political wrangling over the plight of those sleeping rough in winter sparked criticism and new laws.

More than 50 people had been living in colorful tents erected amid the high-end office buildings and glitzy stores of central Martin Place, with the camp becoming the most visible symbol of the lack of low-cost accommodation in Sydney.

Sydney council and the NSW government blamed each other for failing to deal with the camp, before the state's Premier Gladys Berejiklian eventually pushed through a new law Wednesday allowing police to remove the tent dwellers. The law came into effect Friday.

The camp was just meters from the central bank and the New South Wales state parliament in Australia's largest city, which is ranked second on a list of the world's least affordable housing.

The group of dwellers has camped out in Martin Place since the end of last year beside a building site, but more recently pitched the tents after the area was closed for construction.

Lanz Priestley, who has been dubbed the tent city's mayor, said people were moving to a crowd-funded location indoors, after residents were asked by police to pack up.

State officials said they had earlier visited the site 47 times since March, placing some 230 people sleeping rough in Martin Place in temporary accommodation.

Social advocates warn Sydney's high prices are placing more pressure on those struggling to afford a roof over their heads.

More than 100,000 people across Australia were reported homeless in the 2011 national census, with welfare groups expecting the most recent survey held last year to show an increase.

Source(s): AFP