Wednesday, 10 September 2025

Ministers statements: housing

Sonya KILKENNY (Carrum – Attorney-General, Minister for Planning) (14:23): The Allan Labor government is opening doors, quite literally, for thousands of Victorians – families, young people and essential workers – who want to find a home in some of Melbourne’s best connected suburbs. Today we released draft maps for 25 train and tram zone centres, part of our plan to deliver more than 300,000 new homes across 60 centres.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, I ask if the minister could table the script that she is reading verbatim.

The SPEAKER: Is the minister reading or referring to notes?

Sonya KILKENNY: Referring to notes.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The member for Brighton will show some respect to the member on her feet.

Sonya KILKENNY: That will be new. From Hawthorn and Glenferrie on the Belgrave and Lilydale lines to Brighton and Sandringham on the Sandringham line, from Hughesdale to Tottenham ‍– centres that are going to benefit from the Metro Tunnel that opens later this year – these are the right places for more homes: close to public transport and close to jobs and services. Each centre is different, and so are the draft maps, drafted street by street, metre by metre, with taller buildings in the core, right near the stations and trams, with gentler change in the catchments with townhouses and low-rise apartments. We want communities to have their say. That is why we opened consultation on the draft maps today, and just like with the 10 pilot activity centres, community feedback will help us finalise the plans for these 25 centres.

Let us be crystal clear: the status quo is not an option. If we do nothing, more Victorians will be locked out of the housing market, more families will be priced out and more opportunities will be lost. But there are others who want to slam the door shut. The blocker from Brighton is not interested in homes for the next generation. He is not interested in making sure young Victorians have the opportunity their parents had. We will not play those games. Here is the choice: Labor is opening doors, the Liberals are locking them. Only Labor is on the side of renters, first home buyers and growing families.