Tuesday, 5 April 2022

Burwood electorate

Mr FOWLES (Burwood) (14:47): (6301) My constituency question is directed to the Minister for Housing. Minister, can you update me on the progress of construction of the Markham estate in Ashburton, which began last year? Last sitting week an opposition member in the other place—in fact a former housing minister—stated that:

There is no point putting a very low income, probably welfare-dependent family in the best street in Brighton where the children cannot mix with others or go to the school with other children or where they do not have the same ability to have the latest in sneakers and iPhones …

It was a shameful statement that speaks to the reflexive, casual snobbery that is alive and well in the Liberal Party. The Andrews government does not believe there is any room for this kind of class-based discrimination, and these mealy-mouthed statements should be condemned. Labor is building 12 000 new homes for Victorians—good homes in areas like Ashburton and Hawthorn—because that is what Victorians deserve, whatever their circumstances, whatever their stage of life and indeed whatever their choice of sneakers.