Illegal campers attacked in Aussie car park as problem worsens
A white van, believed to be the couple's home, was parked at Four Mile Beach at Queensland's Port Douglas on June 26. An unknown man approached the vehicle late at night and smashed the windows, allegedly with a truncheon-style torch, leaving it in need of repairs worth thousands of dollars.
Queensland Police confirmed to Yahoo News they are investigating the incident, after the man allegedly attacked someone inside the vehicle before causing damage and fleeing on foot.
"Initial information indicates at around 11.20pm, an unknown man approached two people inside a vehicle and became involved in a verbal altercation," a Queensland Police spokesperson told Yahoo. "The man has then hit one of the occupants in the vehicle, before causing damage to the vehicle and fleeing."
👀 Illegal campers warned of $62,000 fines after discovery next to highway
🏕️ Aussies warned over crackdown on illegal camping act with $1,200 fines
😥 Travelling couple share reality of street camping 'anxiety'
An alleged witness to the incident claims the couple had spent the day kite surfing and were getting ready for bed when the offender approached.
'He threatened to kill Shane (the gentleman inside the van) and [said] he is going to rip his f**king heart out, and he threatened to smash the van and rape his girlfriend," homeless woman Melinda Laidlaw told the Cairns Post. "This guy is free to come and smash people's vans, he has no right, he should be accountable for the damage caused.
"I'm very upset for my friend who was inside the van, it's just not on," she said.
Melinda was reportedly forced into living in her van after struggling to afford huge rent hikes when rental accommodation near Holloways Beach was impacted by Cyclone Jasper floodwaters in 2023.
Queensland continues to crack down on illegal campers
Queensland has continued to tighten camping restrictions after the state experienced an uptick in the number of tourists and locals flocking to the coast and sleeping in their cars, vans and caravans overnight as a cheap accommodation alternative.
Councils continue to introduce parking restrictions and threaten fines if campers are caught sleeping overnight in coastal car parks, with the most recent incident occurring at Peregian Esplanade and Victory Park in Noosa Heads this week, with fines of $333 warned. Authorities also issued 31 campers fines during one weekend in Noosa this month, illustrating just how significant the problem has become.
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