Tuesday, 28 July 2026

 Katherine COPSEY (Southern Metropolitan) (13:05): (2429) Residents in the over-55s public housing on Inkerman Street, St Kilda, have been bugging out over Labor’s inaction on pest control in their homes. Residents in the tower were concerned about bedbugs, cockroaches and mice. On 3 June they sent a letter to Homes Victoria demanding action on the bug infestations. They say the agency initially stonewalled their request, but they are undeterred. They were not content to be ignored, so these residents, who are in their 80s and 90s, donned hazmat suits and helped their affected neighbours with cockroach spray, sealant and mouse traps. Only then did the department reach out to offer pest control actions. Chair of the residents committee Tom said:

If the ALP-led Homes Victoria responded to our reports of infestations and issues with maintenance, this building would be a fine place to live …

Minister, why were the Inkerman Street residents’ requests for pest control actions ignored until they took matters into their own hands?