The body of a former international student lay unnoticed for six days at a busy Sydney train station, despite thousands of commuters passing by. Bikram Lama, 32, died in his sleeping bag near St James station in December, where he had been sleeping rough. Up to 100,000 people transited through the station during that period.
Lama, who was not an Australian citizen, was unable to access homelessness services due to his immigration status. Experts say non-residents are a growing cohort trapped in homelessness, unable to receive temporary housing, social housing, welfare payments, or public healthcare.
Lama was known locally as 'the birdman' for feeding pigeons daily in Hyde Park. The birds would gather before his arrival and fly inside to wait for him, noticing his absence in a way no human did. His death has raised questions about social responsibility and the visibility of homeless people in public spaces.
Guardian Australia's investigation highlighted that many commuters were looking at their phones rather than at Lama. The incident has sparked debate about the 'unwritten contract' of mutual recognition in society, with some arguing that the system is designed not to see homeless non-citizens.
Local residents in areas like Kings Cross and Potts Point report regular, neutral interactions with rough sleepers, including eye contact and nods. However, the case of Lama suggests that such minimum standards of acknowledgment may be eroding in parts of Sydney.
