GREATER Dandenong Council has been accused of unfairly targeting people “below the poverty line” by installing parking meters outside Centrelink’s Dandenong office.
Jackie Hay, who organised an online petition against the meters, said she noticed the parking metres when she was helping her frail grandmother to hand in papers at the office.
“It feels like the council is targeting people struggling to find work and struggling to live,” she said.
She said Centrelink clients often waited in queues for beyond the meters’ two-hour limits.
“They have to go out and feed the meters – and lose their spot in the queue – or stay in Centrelink to go find work and get a fine.”
At a council meeting this month, councillor Jim Memeti asked if something could be done to better “look after” Centrelink clients who park longer than two hours.
City planning director Jody Bosman said he would provide a response to councillors indicating the options “in terms of longer stay and free parking in the area”.
