FEDERAL and State governments have reacted with disgust to reports of homeless men being pelted with rocks in Coolangatta and Tweed Heads.

Queensland Community Services and Housing Minister Karen Struthers said the report in Saturday's Daily News left her feeling “sick to the gut”.

She pledged an investigation in to the allegations and said she was disturbed by the “lack of humanity” of the attackers.

“I'm happy to look into how the police operate in regard to the homeless and how service providers are working with police to minimise harm,” she said.

Federal Social Housing and Homelessness Minister Mark Arbib said the attacks were “totally unacceptable”.

“These are the most disadvantaged people at the worst time in their lives and kicking someone when they are down is not on,” he said.

Mr Arbib said the Australian Government had invested almost $5 billion in homeless services and hoped to halve homelessness by 2020.

“The North Coast Accommodation Project provides a range of support, including access to legal support, to enable homeless people to establish and sustain a tenancy in the Richmond Tweed area.

“It links Tweed homeless people to mainstream services, including mental health and drug and alcohol, and focuses on preventing homelessness.

“The government is committed to working with state governments and with local MP Justine Elliotto roll out better services to the homeless that will prevent and try to end their homelessness.”

NSW Upper House Labor MP Walt Secord pointed the finger at Tweed Nationals MP Geoff Provest over the homelessness problem.

“Mr Provest has dropped the ball on homelessness,” Mr Secord said. “Two years ago, he promised to provide a facility for the region.”

But Mr Provest pointed to 20 years of failure on homelessness while Labor was in government.

Mr Provest said he had “not dropped the ball” but was “running with it and I have the goal firmly in my sight”.

A spokesman for NSW Family and Community Services Minister Pru Goward said Housing NSW was developing an action plan.

“Placing homeless people directly into long-term housing with the support they require is more effective and less costly than the more traditional approach,” he said.

“Under the North Coast Regional Homelessness Action Plan, On Track … has been granted funding of $1.5m over the next two years to address homelessness in the Tweed LGA.