Wednesday, 18 March 2026

 David SOUTHWICK (Caulfield) (19:00): (1589) My adjournment tonight is to the Premier, and the action that I seek is for the Premier to immediately meet with Somali Community Inc in Flemington to provide urgent accommodation for the great work that this community organisation does, particularly for migrants, young people and elderly residents that live in the commission flats. What we have seen is the government are looking at bulldozing 40-plus housing estates, of which Flemington is one. The Somali community, and particularly Farah Warsame from Somali Community Inc, has been operating for 35 years. They do not have a home. I was alarmed to read in the Age only a few days ago that they are desperately searching for a home and that they have been ignored and are potentially about to be evicted from their home.

The Somali community reached out on 28 July, writing to the Premier seeking support. They were advised that their longstanding office would be demolished under the housing redevelopment. On 23 ‍September the Department of Premier and Cabinet acknowledged the seriousness and referred it to the Minister for Housing and Building and the Minister for Multicultural Affairs. In October that year Homes Victoria met with the organisation and indicated they would consult and provide an outcome. In November they were advised the matter was still in progress. In December and January further meetings were held. In February 2026 final advice from Homes Victoria was that no alternative space would be provided, the youth office must be vacated by 6 March, with the main office to close shortly after.

This is such an important organisation. It does great work. We see the Somali community really do wonderful things. I went to the Australia Day celebration with the Somali community, who are so proud to be Australians, so proud to contribute to our community, many of whom live in these housing commission flats in North Melbourne and Flemington. This community is about to be booted out because this government does not care. It is incumbent on the Premier to meet with Farah Warsame to provide urgent accommodation so they have a home, they have a place to run their organisation, so they can provide much-needed support to the vulnerable communities that desperately need the support that we all talk about every day. It is not good enough for us to stand up in this Parliament and talk about how we reach out for migrant communities, how great multiculturalism is and how we support them if we do not do the actual work. This is a real chance for the government and the Premier to put her money where her mouth is and ensure that the Somali community have a home and that Farah Warsame is able to continue to do the great work that he does and has been doing for the last 35 ‍years.