Thursday, 15 May 2025

 John PESUTTO (Hawthorn) (01:54): (1149) I rise to raise a matter for the Minister for Housing and Building concerning the safety of residents in and around community housing properties in my electorate of Hawthorn, including those who reside in those community housing facilities. The action I seek from the minister is twofold: first, to ensure that cases involving serious violence or threats are fast-tracked through VCAT so that dangerous behaviour and antisocial behaviour are dealt with swiftly, and secondly, to provide community housing providers with the tools, authority and wraparound supports they need to act decisively where the safety of their residents is at risk. The issue has arisen from specific and serious cases in my electorate that have been brought to my attention, and I would be pleased to share those details privately with the minister.

Community housing is a crucial part of our housing system and is there to offer stability and dignity to all Victorians facing hardship, and for many it does. But when a small number of tenants engage in repeated and persistent violent behaviour or intimidation and harassment and the system fails to respond, it is everyone else, especially those living in those same community housing facilities, who suffers. In recent months I have been inundated with complaints from constituents who are living in fear inside their own homes. They have endured repeated outbursts, threats, damage to property and even physical assaults, all at the hands of a very small minority of tenants whose behaviour has at times become quite dangerous. Despite contacting police and despite reporting incidents to their housing providers, these residents find themselves caught in a web of delay, inaction and fear.

In raising this issue I commend the community housing sector and its community housing tenants more broadly. I know community housing staff are under extreme pressure and doing a great job. I know tenants often face immense challenges, and they deserve our understanding and compassion. That is why it is so important to ensure that all who live in these facilities can be provided with a safe place to live, with the dignity that they all deserve.