Key facts
- Police Taser-ed a homeless man in Queensland after he injured himself during an eviction.
- The eviction was to clear a park for a kite festival.
- The man, identified as Martin, had been living in a camper trailer.
- Martin stated he could not comply with the move-on order due to a lost driver's license.
- He injured himself with a knife before police used a Taser.
- Homeless advocates are calling for a halt to such evictions, citing mental health concerns.
Police in Queensland, Australia, Taser-ed a homeless man who had injured himself during an eviction from a park to make way for a kite festival. The incident has amplified calls for mental health considerations in managing the state's homelessness crisis.
On September 1, council rangers ordered six homeless residents, including a 48-year-old man known as Martin, to leave Pelican Park north of Brisbane within 24 hours. Martin, who had been living in a camper trailer, stated he could not comply with the order as he had lost his driver's license due to a drink-driving conviction and feared his belongings would be impounded.
According to Martin, he told the rangers he would rather die than lose his possessions and subsequently stabbed himself in the neck with a knife. Police then Taser-ed him at least twice. A spokesperson for Queensland police said officers attempted to de-escalate the situation and disarm Martin, but were unsuccessful, and that immediate first aid was provided for his self-inflicted injury. The spokesperson added that the police service is committed to providing officers with mental health training.
Beau Haywood, founder of the charity Nourish Street, criticized the council's enforcement-led approach to homelessness, stating that such clearances can push individuals to a breaking point. He urged Moreton Bay council to halt homeless clearances until they could ensure they were safe and legal. Martin, a former security guard who lost his job during the pandemic, has been homeless for over three years and is on the social housing waiting list, which in Moreton Bay is the longest in the state with 5,146 people as of 2025.
After the incident, Martin was taken to the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, where he underwent surgery and saw a mental health worker. He requested to be discharged to protect his belongings and was later provided transport back to the park. He reported no further contact with health professionals since his discharge. A spokesperson for Metro North health service stated they could not comment on specific patient details due to privacy.
Moreton Bay council has previously faced legal challenges over its handling of homeless encampments, with the Queensland Supreme Court ruling a prior bulldozing of a tent city a violation of the state's Human Rights Act. While clearances were paused, they have reportedly resumed. Martin's circumstances have not changed since the confrontation; he has not been offered housing or an alternative place to stay. Across Queensland, 44,294 people are on the social housing waiting list.