Wagga Wagga Councillor Richard Foley seeks pause on homeless evictions

Councillor Richard Foley has introduced a motion to temporarily halt the eviction of people sleeping rough from Wagga Wagga council land until 30 September, arguing that no one should be forced into the winter cold. The motion follows the council’s recent clean‑up of an abandoned homeless campsite on 7 July and notices issued to residents of Wilks Park and the Murrumbidgee River area ordering them to leave by 28 July or face a $1,000 fine.

The proposal has been criticised by the Homeless Persons’ Legal Service, which says move‑on orders and confiscation of personal property worsen vulnerability. Foley’s amendment calls for a more compassionate approach, citing the risk of hypothermia, serious illness and death for people sleeping outdoors. The issue gained national attention after a baby died in a tent on Wagga beach in May 2026, prompting NSW government action, but Foley says Homes NSW has not secured sufficient long‑term accommodation, leaving many homeless to rely on short‑term motel stays before returning to the streets.