A Western Australian town has stopped playing music by The Wiggles in an attempt to evict homeless people from a community hall after a protest by the band.
The City of Bunbury played Hot Potato on loop at the Graham Bricknell Music Shell outdoor stage in the city centre, south of Perth.
But that was eliminated after the Wiggles intervened on Thursday.
The band reportedly said their music was created to bring joy to children, and was disappointed to learn the music was being used for another purpose.
The city initially defended the use of music, saying it had received reports of anti-social behavior and damage to the music shell “by people encamped.”
The City of Bunbury played The Wiggles’ Hot Potato on loop at the Graham Bricknell Music Shell outdoor stage (above) in the city center to scare away the homeless
Music was said to be a common and passive method used across the state to discourage people from congregating permanently in an area.
He also claimed that he had been the victim of a burglary.
“Music has been played on the shell for over six months without incident, but we noticed (Thursday) that someone had removed a padlock in the shell’s storage area and turned the volume of the music all the way up,” the city said Bunbury in a statement.
Housing and Homelessness Minister John Carey says homelessness requires a ‘joint approach’.
It said the volume had returned to an ‘acceptable level’ on Thursday, but it was confirmed on Friday morning that the music had been permanently turned off.
“Homelessness is a sensitive and complex issue that requires a holistic and collaborative approach,” the statement said.
“We remain empathetic to those experiencing homelessness in our community as we continue to advocate for the state government and work with local agencies to find a solution for all.”
WA Housing and Homelessness Minister John Carey agreed, saying the City of Bunbury’s use of the music shell was “not a constructive way to help the most vulnerable members of our community”.
The music was switched off after The Wiggles (above) said their music was made to bring joy to children and was disappointed to hear it was being used for another purpose
“All levels of government – local, state and federal – have a responsibility when it comes to an issue as complex as homelessness,” he said.
Cook’s government has budgeted $2.6 billion for housing and homelessness responses over four years, including $225 million to tackle homelessness this financial year.
The city of Bunbury is a local government area with a population of approximately 76,000, approximately 180 kilometers south of Perth.