Southern Metropolitan Region
Ryan BATCHELOR (Southern Metropolitan) (12:46): (512) My question is to the Minister for Housing. Can the minister please outline what support is being made available to public housing residents in Southern Metropolitan Region after the announcement of the housing statement? The campaign of outright disinformation that is being peddled by the Greens and the opposition on the future of the public housing towers is a disgrace. Fearmongering and scaring vulnerable communities about their future is something that no member of this place should be associated with, but that is exactly what is happening in the community. The Greens are playing games with people’s lives and opposing initiatives that will start to address the very real crisis of housing that people are experiencing across this state. This Labor government is taking action to address the housing crisis, and as part of that we are rebuilding social housing right across this state. It is very clear that some of the current public housing towers across Victoria right now are no longer fit for purpose. Two of them are already unfit for human habitation. Waiting for more to break down is not a viable option. These towers are outdated and unable to be fully refurbished because of their original design. We have got a vision for housing for the long term, and we are not playing short-term politics.