Thursday, 19 March 2026

 Michael GALEA (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (18:57): (2438) For my adjournment matter this evening I wish to raise a matter for the attention of the Minister for Housing and Building, who just happens to be with us tonight, which is terrific. The action that I seek is an update on how sustainable design methodology is informing social housing developments in the state of Victoria, especially as we are undertaking a significant reform and rebuild program of social housing in this state. The many developments which have already taken place include those in places such as Bangs Street, Prahran, which were described this week by the local Liberal member as ‘fabulous developments, sustainable developments in Bangs Street’, and I could not agree with her more. If only we had some more sensible Liberals like the member for Prahran when it comes to the matter of housing. I know that she was very excited about it, and I know that it is something that the minister has been very excited about in Prahran and across Melbourne as well. But it is not just within these walls at Spring Street that that attention has been piqued. Indeed we saw a great deal of interest from Their Majesties the King and Queen of Denmark, who visited the site in Prahran this week, accompanied by the minister for housing herself, and as I understand, the member for Prahran was also in attendance. I know the minister would be only too thrilled to impress us all, as I am sure she impressed the royals, with her knowledge of dansk sprog, the Danish language, and I look forward to hearing further from her about that. But I would like to know how this sustainable design methodology is informing the social build that this government is undertaking and, in particular, what sort of international engagements and relationships are being built as a result. What lessons are others keen to learn from the state of Victoria? What future collaborations and partnerships are there as well?