Wednesday, 29 May 2024

Housing

Tim BULL (Gippsland East) (09:49): When you consider the growing public housing waiting list in this state, those who are residents of public housing are indeed fortunate, and being afforded a public housing residence should be respected. However, more must be done by the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing to ensure those afforded a home are respectful of the opportunity.

Here is just one example. A clandestine drug lab was shut down when Victoria Police recently executed a long-awaited raid at an East Gippsland public housing dwelling. However, despite this, leading up to this action there were 140 separate reports over four years to the department raising concerns about this illegal activity. My office also made multiple representations to the various ministers. However, the department said they could find nothing to substantiate these claims and appeared to have an attitude of defending the indefensible. After the raid the department retired the property and sold it at auction; it needed to be gutted and sold due to methamphetamine contamination. Questions continue as to how tenants were allowed to create a drug lab in public housing when the department was continually made aware of the issue and did not act.

I call on the minister to review the policy and ensure more comprehensive monitoring is undertaken and more consideration is given to complaints from law-abiding residents and to make sure that those who are in public housing are those that need a roof over their head and will be respectful.