Brunswick electorate
Tim READ (Brunswick) (14:48): (1166) My constituency question is for the Minister for Housing. Last year I was contacted by Brunswick constituent Vasu because his rent had increased by so much. Vasu was an ICU nurse at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, but with cancer and consequent vision loss, he now cannot work. Vasu got the disability support pension earlier this year, but rent for his one-bedroom apartment in Brunswick is now 80 per cent of his Centrelink allowance. Vasu’s landlord recently issued a notice to vacate due to plans to sell, so Vasu has been searching for other accommodation without success. He has been on the public housing waiting list for five years. My question for the minister is: how will the government ensure that Vasu has appropriate accommodation?