The City of Moreton Bay council violated the human rights of homeless campers when they destroyed their tents and belongings in April, the Supreme Court has heard.
It comes after council officers demolished a homeless camp at Eddie Hyland Park in April, prompting several of the campers to move to a council bush reserve in Kallangur.
In a statement, a council spokesperson said the role of the Human Rights Act should not be used to prevent councils from upholding the law.
Speaking outside the court, John Bobeldyk rejected the council's claim that he had consented to having his possessions thrown away. Mr Bobeldyk said it was "impossible" for him to retrieve all his possessions in the time he was given, including his daughter's ashes. "They give you an hour to pack up everything, otherwise they're going to come in and grab it and put it all in the bin," Mr Bobeldyk said.