Homeless Tasmanians may soon be immune from prosecution for seeking shelter in public places.
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The Local Government Association of Tasmania will consider a move to change the by-laws governing public places including parks, gardens, beaches and highways.
The move is being led by Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds and Clarence alderman Brendan Blomeley.
LGAT president Christina Holmdahl said from a personal perspective she supported the push to ensure homeless people were not fined for breaching by-laws relating to public places.
"The case is a very compelling one because homelessness impacts on all municipalities, but some more than others," Councillor Holmdahl said.
"Until we find solutions to support the homeless this seems a decent way to look at the issue."
Alderman Blomeley, who is on LGAT's general management committee, is hopeful Tasmania's 29 councils will support a motion when it meets in December.
He will take a motion to the Clarence City Council's meeting on Monday night to "remake" the by-law governing public places.
"If you are homeless you should not be hit with a fine," Alderman Blomeley said.
"I want to ensure there are no unintended consequences for people who are homeless, sleeping rough and seeking shelter in public spaces.
"Issuing infringements or moving people on are inappropriate responses to people experiencing homelessness.
"These people are often marginalised within the community, are most vulnerable and may need to use public spaces to sleep or store their personal belongings."
Alderman Blomeley said the Hobart City Council had taken the lead and created a provision in their by-law, so that a person was not guilty of an offence where the person establishes that, at the time they camped in a pubic space, they were homeless.
"My motion calls on Clarence City Council to adopt this same, sensible and humane approach,"he said.
"My motion also calls on Clarence City Council to follow the example of the Hobart City Council and for the Local Government Association of Tasmania to support the call for other councils in our State to adopt a similar, best practice policy approach regarding people sleeping rough."
Alderman Blomeley said while people were not charged "very often" it was better to ensure homeless people were not subject to more stress.
Councillor Holmdahl said while homelessness was not often visible in municipalities, including her own West Tamar area, she believed it was a growing problem.
"Charitable organisations tell us the problem is more widespread than we think," she said.
LGAT will discuss the by-laws at its meeting in Hobart on December 6.
The latest Tasmanian data showed that in the three months to June, waiting list for priority public housing applicants increased by 17 weeks to 67 weeks.