Melbourne electorate
Ellen SANDELL (Melbourne) (14:50): (426) My question is to the Minister for Housing. Last year Labor promised to install air-conditioning units in all Victorian public housing towers. It was an election promise and $141 million was earmarked in the budget this year, but many of my residents say they are yet to see any sign of these air conditioners. We have had some residents who have already had holes put in their walls, getting ready for the units, but have no aircon. Some elderly residents have told us that they have been told that they can purchase their own aircon units and then Homes Victoria will do the installation, but they have to pay for the units themselves. Given Labor’s plan to demolish all public housing towers in Victoria, many of my constituents are worried that the promise of air conditioners by Labor has been scrapped just as we are going into an El Niño event and what looks like being one of the hottest summers we have ever had. My question is, Minister: does the Labor government intend to follow through on its promise to provide air conditioning to all public housing towers, or has this promise been scrapped?