Wednesday, 18 February 2026

 Ryan BATCHELOR (Southern Metropolitan) (17:23): I rise to make a statement on the Legal and Social Issues Committee report into the redevelopment of Melbourne’s public housing towers, which was tabled in December. That report, and particularly the minority report from government members, detailed, I think, quite factually, the serious concerns that exist with the condition of those towers. The inquiry revealed evidence of failing sewer systems; of mould in walls, caused by those sewers collapsing; of structural deficiencies, particularly emerging in the concrete used in the unique construction methodology for those towers; and of the lifts that cannot accommodate stretchers in, I think, 95 per cent of the towers, which means that people who require an ambulance cannot get stretchered out if they live in those towers. There is evidence, which the majority of the committee denied going in the report, from the Victorian Public Tenants Association, which articulates in particular the climatic issues associated with the units, flats, being too hot in summer and too cold in winter. It is not unexpected, because many of these towers were built 60-plus years ago, with an expected lifespan, when they were built, of 50 years. So they were built 60 years ago, with a 50-year expected lifespan. I think that it is incumbent upon all of us to recognise that some of the most disadvantaged members of our community deserve to live in homes that are modern, that are energy efficient, that are accessible and that meet contemporary building standards and not to consign them to live in facilities that were built 60 years ago with a 50-year lifespan.

Recently, and following the tabling of that report, the government announced the next tranche of tower redevelopments, and on Monday, with Minister Shing and alongside Mr Berger, we visited the residents in the tower at Inkerman Street in St Kilda. We had a really great and lengthy conversation with residents there about their perspectives on the current conditions of the towers. We heard quite stark evidence about some of the deficiencies that exist in those places and the strain that they are under. It was quite clear that the residents genuinely had affection for the communities in which they live. To say that they did have some shock at the next wave of announcements is absolutely true, but as one of the residents told us, it took about a day or a day and a half for that shock to wash through before the excitement about the next phase – the opportunity of the new apartments that are being built in the social housing developments in Prahran, in South Yarra and in Port Melbourne, which are built to modern standards, which are energy efficient and which are accessible – the sense of excitement about the opportunities that are emerging and the eagerness of those residents to go and have a look at the new homes, which they are going to be moving into once the relocation process in these towers starts from July, came. I think it was important for us to be there to listen and to talk about what the future holds. I think it is quite clear that, as always, people are nervous about change, and we absolutely understand that, but the support services are there and the relocation assistance is there. But most importantly, the brand new housing that these residents – with their neighbours, maintaining their community – can move into is being built right now and will be finished later this year.

There are many great examples of wonderful, new social housing estates being built right across the Southern Metropolitan Region and right across metropolitan Melbourne. The Big Housing Build and the towers redevelopment program are incredibly important parts of making sure that those who need our support the most with housing have the opportunity to live in new, modern homes, and I absolutely think that that is what they deserve.