2025-08-07
Today’s public housing inquiry heard devastating evidence that the Allan Labor Government’s tower demolition plan is built on coercive relocations, ignored alternatives, and a secretive privatisation model.
From the first witnesses, the message was clear - the relocation process is traumatising, unaccountable, and deeply harmful. Residents have been pressured to leave with little or no support - some told to “pick a home” off realestate.com.au, others given verbal ultimatums. Advocates described elderly tenants in tears and migrant residents unable to access critical information.
The Law Institute of Victoria’s Dr Bill Swannie and former Supreme Court Justice Kevin Bell AO KC condemned the project as a breach of international law, labelling this as “forced displacement backed by eviction,” and confirmed he will be making a complaint to the United Nations.
Witnesses also exposed the disturbing lack of transparency surrounding the decision to demolish. No documents have been released showing that refurbishment was ever properly assessed, despite repeated government claims that the towers are “beyond repair”.
Expert architects from OFFICE told the inquiry that refurbishment is not only viable, but it would also save $354 million, deliver more modern, environmentally sound homes, and avoid the devastating health and social harm of relocation.
Instead, the Labor Government is pressing ahead with the Ground Lease Model (GLM) - a delivery model that was repeatedly discredited by expert witnesses today, being laid bare as a political fix designed to give the illusion of retaining public land while actually providing no public housing and handing control of a public asset to private consortiums.
Researchers from RMIT slammed the model’s total lack of transparency, describing it as a “black box” of tax subsidies and responsibility shifting, shielded from Freedom of Information laws, with no public oversight. They told the inquiry there is no evidence the model is effective, that the risks are unknown, and that it's “by design” and that similar models have already been banned or abandoned in the UK following cost blowouts, governance failures, and tenant harm.
The inquiry heard that the Ground Lease Model is just an investment opportunity for superannuation funds that will leave taxpayers footing the bill, paying billions in subsidies and government payments required to prop it up from day one.
Homes Victoria and the Housing Minister will be fronting the inquiry that was secured by the Greens tomorrow.
Quotes attributable to the Victorian Greens spokesperson for Public and Affordable Housing, Gabrielle de Vietri:
“There was never any justification for Labor’s plan that’s well and truly falling apart during this inquiry which has heard repeated, damning evidence of coercion and secrecy.”
“It’s profoundly unsettling watching just how little thought went into this reckless plan, given the devastating impact it will have on people’s lives and the housing crisis.”
“There’s more evidence being presented in this inquiry than Labor has ever managed to provide and now it’s time for Labor to reckon with the fact that this plan cannot be defended, and no one’s defending it, except those who are going to profit from it.”