Queensland inquiry considers decriminalising public drunkenness and begging

At Queensland hearing, human rights advocates and service providers expressed unanimous support for the decriminalisation of offences such as public intoxication, begging and urination. Photograph: Dave Hunt/AAP

Queensland has become the last Australian jurisdiction to consider the decriminalisation of public intoxication, in a move service providers say is “long overdue”.

At a parliamentary inquiry on Monday, human rights advocates and service providers expressed unanimous support for the decriminalisation of offences such as public intoxication, begging and urination.