Thursday, 5 February 2026

 James NEWBURY (Brighton) (14:56): My question is to the Premier, and I ask: when will the state Labor government deal with the squatter at the taxpayer-funded public housing property at 43 Keith Street in Hampton East? Last year the government-managed property was vacated by its previous tenant. Despite the historically long public housing waiting list, the property has sat vacant. Because the site has been mismanaged, a dangerous squatter has taken self-appointed ownership of the property. The squatter is dangerous and well known to police. Many in the neighbourhood have experienced extremely violent behaviour from the squatter. Over the weekend the squatter threatened to kill a nearby neighbour. The squatter has been arrested numerous times, and the local community is forced to constantly call the police because of dangerous behaviour, which many fear is escalating. Despite Victorians paying for the property, the department has shown no interest in the squatter or the physical damage she is causing to the home. Not only has this government failed to keep our community safe, but we are also paying for the site to be trashed because this government does not care about taxpayers money.