Housing
Sarah MANSFIELD (Western Victoria) (12:49): My question is for Minister for Housing. As part of the relocation process for residents living in the public housing towers that are being demolished, households are provided with offers for alternative homes, which historically residents could decline if they were inappropriate for their needs. Homes Victoria are telling residents that they are no longer actively seeking another home or more offers for households who decline inappropriate relocation offers. What does this actually mean practically for those people?
Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop, Minister for Housing and Building, Minister for Development Victoria and Precincts) (12:50): I do not accept the premise of your question insofar as it seeks to assert that Homes Victoria is no longer proceeding with relocation requests where an offer of inappropriate housing is declined – I think I heard you correctly. To the extent that you are asserting that that is the case, I would again invite you to consider the relocations process through the lens that we are approaching it – namely, that the residents and the community are at the heart of what is occurring. Dedicated relocations officers – and again, there is a dedicated officer assigned to each resident and each household as far as that relocations process is concerned – take great care in understanding what the needs, the priorities and the aspirations of households are. They work very hard to make sure that they have a deep understanding of what it is that renters want and need, including the connection that so many residents have to the place of their house at the time that we are having those engagements.
As I have said here and beyond this place many times, the redevelopment of estates is about providing more and better homes. We have got that program underway across a number of estates, and the towers will be demolished once all renters have moved out. As at 3 October over 99 per cent of the 484 households in the tranche 1 towers in Flemington and North Melbourne have either moved or are getting ready to move. Across North Melbourne and Flemington 416 households have already moved, while a further 66 households are getting ready to move. We continue to progress our renter relocation program, and this is about making sure that offers can be made to households based on the areas that they nominate and the requirements that they have, including as they relate to accessibility and to amenity. This resident- and community-first approach is very much underpinned by renter voice and, as I said, understanding and developing that very deep approach to renters’ housing and social support needs. The residential relocations team also has renter and community engagement activities, and we have continued to increase the level of resident relocation support.
When we source households for homes and for residents, they are based on needs and preferences, and they reflect the information that households provide in the course of that relocation process. So I do not accept the premise of the question. If you have specific instances, however, please do raise them with me and my office.
Sarah MANSFIELD (Western Victoria) (12:53): I guess what I would be interested in understanding, Minister, is what mechanisms are in place for residents to appeal or request further consideration. If they feel their reason for refusing an offer – say, for disability access or insufficient space for their family – has not been properly acknowledged in the offer that has been made, what avenues do they have to appeal those offers and have a more appropriate home provided for them?
Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop, Minister for Housing and Building, Minister for Development Victoria and Precincts) (12:54): Dr Mansfield, we are not forcing residents to accept offers; let us just be really, really clear about that. When offers are made to residents as part of the relocation process, those offers are made by reference to and in consideration of a number of factors, including the sorts of examples that you have just outlined: the number of bedrooms, the area or the region which is nominated by the household in question, any accessibility or mobility requirements and proximity to place, whether that is healthcare services, early childhood, education or employment.
Again, when you talk about avenues of appeal, they are actually at the heart of the community-first approach and the renter-first approach. Relocation officers are in constant dialogue with households about what it is that they want via a process whereby offers are sourced and offers are made. This is not a one-step process; it is not a transaction which occurs, perhaps in the context that you have outlined it. If you have specific examples, please do let me know, and we can have further conversations. (Time expired)