Ban motion car-ried

Councillors passed the decision at last week’s meeting after discussing the issue of backpackers sleeping in their cars in and around Robertson Park in North Perth and Hyde Park in Highgate and upsetting surrounding residents.

Mayor Alannah MacTiernan said she was uncomfortable with the ban but ultimately voted in favour. She said the homeless and women suffering domestic abuse sometimes had no option but to sleep in their cars.

Cr Joshua Topelberg assured councillors the act would not target the disadvantaged, but would simply give rangers the power to respond to peoples’ complaints.