City of Bunbury permanently switches off Wiggles music at Graham Bricknell Music Shell

A South West council slammed for using a Wiggles song to disperse homeless people from a waterfront music venue has announced an end to the practice. The City of Bunbury has attracted national headlines after it was discovered it had been playing Hot Potato on repeat for six months in an effort to “deter antisocial behaviour” at the Graham Bricknell Memorial Music Shell. Following public outcry and a ban by The Wiggles on the council using their music in public, the City announced it had permanently switched off the speakers at the Shell. But it has refused to apologise to the band for using the music, with Bunbury mayor Jaysen Miguel and a City of Bunbury spokesperson stating they would not be making any further comments on the matter. In a statement, the spokesperson said the decision to switch off the music was made “after careful consideration” on on Thursday. “A common method used across the State, music is a passive way of discouraging people to congregate permanently in an area and to deter antisocial behaviour,” they said. “The Shell is a popular community space used for local events and where people should feel safe to visit and meet up. “Unfortunately, the City continues to receive reports of antisocial behaviour at this site. There is also continuous damage to property, which comes at a cost to ratepayers and the City.” The council acknowledged that the Shell was a popular spot for rough sleepers and it would continue to work with police and other organisations on the issue of homelessness. The spokesperson highlighted the City’s support of the State Government’s housing first strategy alongside its recently adopted community safety and crime prevention plan. “Homelessness is a sensitive and complex issue which requires a holistic and collaborative approach,” they said. “We remain empathetic to those experiencing homelessness in our community as we continue to advocate with State Government and work with local agencies to find a solution for all.” The City has used music as a tactic previously to deter people from gathering at the location, blasting Peter Allen’s I Go To Rio during the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.