2025-04-04
The Victorian Greens say that the public housing residents’ class action is just the beginning and that residents across the 44 public housing towers will continue to resist and fight back as Labor steamrolls ahead with their disastrous plan that will displace thousands of people in a housing crisis.
The lawsuit that included 479 households from the three towers in North Melbourne and Flemington argued that the Victorian Labor Government failed to properly consider the residents' human rights when they decided to demolish the towers, and that other alternatives - such as retrofitting the towers - weren’t even considered.
Since Labor’s plan was first announced, they’ve refused to provide documents to justify the demolition of the towers, failing to produce documents to the parliament and the courts as part of this case.
The Victorian Greens attempted to compel the documents through the parliament and Labor blocked 148 out of 156 claiming ‘executive privilege’ to keep the documents secret. From what the Greens did receive it implies that the plan to demolish and privatise the towers was based on nothing more than a few dot points on the back of an envelope.
The Victorian Greens say that the case has made it clear that residents do not want to be kicked out so Labor can privatise the public housing estates, and that this is only the beginning of residents fighting back against Labor’s plans to demolish their homes.
Quote attributable to the Victorian Greens spokesperson for Public and Affordable Housing, Gabrielle de Vietri:
“This case has made one thing clear, residents do not want Labor to demolish their homes so the public housing estates can be privatised. This is just the beginning of residents fighting back against Labor’s bad plan. This plan that wants to tear down homes and displace thousands of public housing residents in a housing crisis has never stacked up. It’s only a matter of time until the wheels fall completely off.”
Quotes attributable to the Leader of the Victorian Greens and member for Melbourne, Ellen Sandell:
“The outcome today is disappointing for the brave North Melbourne and Flemington residents who took the state Labor government to court, but the fight is not over. Residents are speaking out, they deserve to have their voices heard and the Greens are going to keep standing alongside them to oppose Labor’s demolition and privatisation of public housing.”