Homeless man Tasered during Brisbane park clearance over kite festival
A homeless man was shot with a Taser after stabbing himself during a council eviction from a Brisbane park.
On 1 September, Moreton Bay council rangers ordered six homeless residents to leave Pelican Park north of Brisbane. They had 24 hours to leave.
The park was needed for a kite festival. Martin, 48, lived in a camper trailer.
He said he couldn't comply because he had lost his driver's licence. Martin told rangers he would rather die than lose his possessions.
His belongings would be impounded. During the confrontation, Martin stabbed himself in the neck with a knife.
Police shot him with a Taser at least twice. They gave him first aid.
He was taken to Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital and had surgery. Queensland Police said officers tried to de-escalate and disarm him.
Local advocates argue this shows why councils need mental health support when clearing camps. Moreton Bay has Queensland's longest social housing waiting list: 5,146 people at last count in 2025.
- 1 September
- Eviction date
- 5,146 people at last count in 2025
- Housing waiting list
Why it mattersThe case shows why enforcement-only clearances can be dangerous when people face mental health crises.
AustraliaBrisbane and Queensland councils rely on move-on orders to manage tent cities, but this incident raises questions about whether such enforcement can safely handle people in mental distress without housing alternatives in place.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 10 d ago
