Friday, 14 November 2025

 Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop, Minister for Housing and Building, Minister for Development Victoria and Precincts) (12:36): The Allan Labor government are really proud of our strong and ongoing partnership with the Albanese Labor government to build more homes for Victorians. Under round 1 of the Housing Australia Future Fund 4135 homes were funded for Victoria. That is 30 per cent of the Australian total. In early July this year I joined federal housing minister Clare O’Neil to announce Victoria’s first completed project under HAFF round 1 in partnership with Evolve Housing and Pace Development. This project has delivered 85 new homes, comprising 35 social and 50 affordable housing units, offering a range of one-, two- and three-bedroom units. HAFF round 2, announced in July, will help build and operate 1275 social housing dwellings across Victoria backed by a $991 million fund from the federal government and $360 million from the Victorian government. At Bronte Court in Williamstown, where community consultation has just wrapped up, this funding will deliver 96 new social homes, a move that I know is very much welcomed by the Labor member for Williamstown Melissa Horne in the other place. At Dunlop Avenue in Ascot Vale we are replacing 11 ageing homes with 101 brand new homes that are modern, well designed and energy efficient, with improved communal spaces, and I know that the Labor member for Essendon in the other place is really thrilled to see this project going ahead. We are also building five new low-rise projects at Plunkett Street in Bellfield, Burnewang Street in Albion, Melon Street in Braybrook, Electra Avenue in Ashwood and Hilda Street in Glenroy, delivering more than 100 homes.

HAFF round 2 includes the redevelopment of 30 low-rise ageing homes at Noone Street and Rutland Street in Clifton Hill. That project will see these apartments replaced with 114 brand new social housing homes. That is a 280 per cent uplift to social housing at this site. I certainly hope to see more vocal support for these incredible projects from the Greens member for Richmond in the other place, but I will not be holding my breath. After all, it does involve the delivery of more homes in the inner city, and that is something that Greens can get behind. But while they block and while you block, we build.