Sydney - For billionaire businessman Gerry Harvey, the face of the 100,000 or so homeless in Australia is that of Jhiymy Mhiyles. Mhiyles, whose age is a secret like his real name, has magnificent views of Bondi Beach from his cliff-top shack. He's been dossing there for eight years, begging from the mostly foreign tourists who obey their Sydney guide books and take the scenic walk from Bondi to Coogee.
"They are not putting anything back into the community," Harvey said of those like Mhiyles whose lifestyle is supported by rattling a tin. "It might be a callous way of putting it, but what are they doing? You are helping a whole heap of no-hopers to survive for no good reason. They are just a drag on the whole community."
Understandably, Harvey's tirade earned him a riposte from charity workers.
"These comments are very concerning and very un-Australian in the lead up to Christmas," youth worker Les Twentyman said. Major Gary Masters, from the Salvation Army, was equally outraged, saying that society had an obligation to take care of the destitute. "There are people on the streets who are there not because of their own fault."
Harvey, who gives to charity, complained that his comments were taken out of context. What he wanted to say was that charity should be about helping people to help themselves - not just helping them sustain an indolent lifestyle.
The ideal face, Harvey might argue, is that of Bob Sheehan, 47, who for the past three years has had a pitch on Sydney's Circular Quay ferry terminal selling copes of The Big Issue. He buys the fortnightly magazine at cost price and keeps the difference.
The Big Issue, which has been going in Australia for 12 years, helps down-and-outs like Sheehan by setting themselves up in micro-businesses like street-corner magazine selling.
"Selling the magazine has got me back into the community," said Sheehan, who ended up on the street after a divorce. "It get's your self-confidence back. You have a purpose. You start looking forward again to getting up next day."
