Perth Voice Interactive

MEDICATION is reportedly amongst items confiscated by Perth city council in its raids on Heirisson Island/Matagarup.

The council’s been seizing goods to stop people camping there, and the Voice has heard one woman had her monthly prescription taken, along with the rest of her belongings.

The council’s charging people the cost of seizure and storage before handing gear back, and the woman can’t afford either to replace the meds or pay the fees.

A wheelchair belonging to a man with a bad back was also reportedly taken in a previous raid, and the Voice has seen photos of a crutch sitting in the warehouse where seized goods were held.

PCC media manager Michael Holland continues to refuse to answer questions or acknowledge correspondence.

Last Thursday, April 14, protestors from the island and their supporters marched on Council House to demand an end to the raids and confiscations. Their presence resulted in the PCC ordering a lockdown of the premises.

Just days after joining that march, Tony Spratt/Bropho died. Advocate Jennifer Kaesehagen has no doubt homelessness contributed to his death. “Homelessness strips so many years off the otherwise natural lifespans of people,” she told the Voice.

Mr Bropho had taken several beatings while on the streets: he’d most recently been admitted to RPH after being kicked in the ribs while sleeping.

A keen muso who took to the stage at last year’s Concert for Matagarup, he had a grin on his face last Thursday while pushing a trolley of food to “donate” to the PCC (figuring it must be starving as it’s always confiscating food).

At that march, many spoke about how unsafe they felt sleeping on the streets, and that Maragarup was like a sanctuary in the city: “When I sleep in the city I’ve been assaulted by men,” one young woman said. “Ever since the raids I have no tent, I have no clothes, I sleep in a bush… at the island I felt safe.”

The Brakema family who’ve been staying on the island with five young kids also spoke: “My daughter Hope wakes up screaming every night after the raid,” Ms Brakema said. She’d thanked Mr Bropho for helping them and said Matagarup was the safest place the family had experienced in its long travel from the eastern states.

The group moved on to parliament house, blockading the steps and setting up tents. After an hour or so of nobody coming out to speak, the group dispersed.

by DAVID BELL