Squatters resist eviction

By Bill Mason

BRISBANE -- A group of young unemployed and homeless squatters have barricaded themselves inside an abandoned West End Housing Commission house to prevent the state government evicting them.

Spokesperson for the group, Dainishi Lattimer, said on April 11: “The eight residents have locked themselves inside because if there is an eviction, they hope to show the Family Services, the Housing Commission and the rest of the community how senseless and tragic it is”.

Another occupant, Allison, said, “With the amount of homeless people in Queensland and houses that have been left empty, squatter laws should be changed and squatting people should be allowed to take the initiative themselves if the government isn't going to provide adequate housing”.

Another, David, said, “We are not leaving -- we are all willing to be arrested. We've got nowhere to go.”

Lattimer added: “There's a million people on the waiting list for public housing around Australia, and there's 90,000 people in Queensland waiting for homes”.

He said the group had set up workshops such as photography, screen printing, yoga, plant propagation and basket weaving in a double-storey warehouse on the same property as the house.

Despite a government deadline of April 15, the squatters have vowed to stay and are organising support from the West End and general community.

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