1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,639 Speaker 1: Another missed opportunity this week. I'm afraid to report driven 2 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:05,480 Speaker 1: by fear and blunt honesty or lack of blunt honesty. 3 00:00:05,559 --> 00:00:09,000 Speaker 1: When asked Tuesday in the Parliament whether the government was 4 00:00:09,039 --> 00:00:11,080 Speaker 1: going to change the law to band homeless people from 5 00:00:11,119 --> 00:00:13,520 Speaker 1: camping in downtown areas of this country, the Prime Minister 6 00:00:13,560 --> 00:00:16,920 Speaker 1: gave us the answer of a scared person scared to 7 00:00:16,920 --> 00:00:19,680 Speaker 1: deal with the truth. Technically, it may, as he said, 8 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:22,079 Speaker 1: it may currently be true they have not discussed it 9 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:25,480 Speaker 1: in cabinet. Technically it may be true they haven't passed 10 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:27,960 Speaker 1: a law, but that wasn't the point. The point is 11 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:30,920 Speaker 1: trouble in CBDs is crippling entire cities and it needs 12 00:00:30,960 --> 00:00:33,919 Speaker 1: to stop, and that's where his answers should have started. 13 00:00:33,960 --> 00:00:36,239 Speaker 1: Then you should have gone on to say, we've had 14 00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:38,400 Speaker 1: meetings and we've worked out no one has the power 15 00:00:38,440 --> 00:00:40,720 Speaker 1: to actually tackle this particular issue, so we're going to 16 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:44,080 Speaker 1: change that, and then he should have outlined how they 17 00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:46,199 Speaker 1: were going to change it. We don't deal with the 18 00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:48,519 Speaker 1: motive stories well in this country because of fear, and 19 00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:52,040 Speaker 1: that needs to change as well. Homelessness for many is sad, 20 00:00:52,200 --> 00:00:54,880 Speaker 1: not all, but many. There will be addiction and sorrow 21 00:00:54,920 --> 00:00:57,880 Speaker 1: and madness literally and figuratively. Oh, you can get lost 22 00:00:57,920 --> 00:00:59,920 Speaker 1: in that. If you let yourself, then you end up 23 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:04,200 Speaker 1: like the Labour party apologizing for shocking outcomes wrote a ruer. Anyone, 24 00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:06,679 Speaker 1: but each part of any given a motive story, has 25 00:01:06,720 --> 00:01:09,280 Speaker 1: a waiting. If the waiting is wrong on one part, 26 00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:13,720 Speaker 1: disaster ensues being afraid to deal with the very real problem. 27 00:01:13,760 --> 00:01:16,840 Speaker 1: For fear of offense is overweaiting the plight of the homeless. 28 00:01:16,840 --> 00:01:19,280 Speaker 1: The homeless need help, yes, but they can't wreck the 29 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:21,640 Speaker 1: joints simply because of their status. They don't get more 30 00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:24,080 Speaker 1: rights because of who they are, and we can't look 31 00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:27,000 Speaker 1: away just because it's easy to do so. Also requiring 32 00:01:27,080 --> 00:01:30,039 Speaker 1: their share of weight is every business operator, bus driver, 33 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:32,800 Speaker 1: worker and citizen who wouldn't mind using their CBD but 34 00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:35,680 Speaker 1: doesn't or as fearful to because our leaders won't deal 35 00:01:35,720 --> 00:01:38,760 Speaker 1: with hard issues. No one argues it isn't a problem. 36 00:01:38,880 --> 00:01:41,039 Speaker 1: We can wait if you want a bit about how 37 00:01:41,080 --> 00:01:43,280 Speaker 1: we resolve it. But resolve it we must, and that 38 00:01:43,360 --> 00:01:46,040 Speaker 1: involves getting the problem out of downtown and it requires 39 00:01:46,080 --> 00:01:49,000 Speaker 1: the right attitude to do it. Labour asked the question. 40 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:51,760 Speaker 1: Because they back the homeless, they're happy to rect cities 41 00:01:51,800 --> 00:01:54,880 Speaker 1: and businesses. Their record shows that the Prime Minister failed 42 00:01:54,920 --> 00:01:56,680 Speaker 1: to show up as a leader though and run with 43 00:01:56,720 --> 00:01:59,960 Speaker 1: a solution, because as he stood to answer, is back 44 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:03,880 Speaker 1: phone finished. For more from the Mic Asking Breakfast, listen 45 00:02:03,960 --> 00:02:06,920 Speaker 1: live to News Talks at B from six am weekdays, 46 00:02:07,120 --> 00:02:09,200 Speaker 1: or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.