‘This has to be a wake-up call’: NSW attorney general urged to order inquest into death of Sydney’s ‘birdman’
Summary
The New South Wales attorney-general, Michael Daley, has been urged to order a formal inquest into the death of Bikram Lama, a homeless Nepali migrant found dead in Sydney’s Hyde Park. Lama’s death raised concerns about gaps in support for non-resident rough sleepers, and calls are growing to investigate if government policies contributed to his death.Key Facts
- Bikram Lama, known as “the birdman,” was a Nepali migrant who died while sleeping rough in Hyde Park, Sydney.
- His body was discovered after lying unnoticed for up to a week near a busy pedestrian area.
- Lama came to Australia to study but lost contact with his family and was considered a non-resident at his time of death.
- About 20% of rough sleepers in Sydney’s inner city are non-residents, who often cannot access housing, social security, healthcare, or work rights.
- Independent MP Alex Greenwich formally asked the attorney-general to direct an inquest to investigate if state and federal policies failed Lama.
- The coroner is waiting for police evidence before deciding whether to hold an inquest and has contacted Lama’s family in Nepal.
- Previous inquests into homeless deaths have linked lack of housing and support to premature deaths.
- There is growing pressure to review policies to prevent similar deaths among vulnerable rough sleepers, especially non-residents.
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