Parliamentary inquiry into public housing demolitions

The Victorian Parliament is conducting an inquiry into the government’s plan to demolish the public housing towers in Melbourne.

The inquiry hearings are transmitted live for those who would like to watch the proceedings and there is a record on Hansard of each hearing day. There are also published submissions from a very wide range of organisations and individuals opposed to the plan. Visit parliament.vic.gov.au/publichousingtowers

The inquiry is in response to the government’s failure to provide evidence of the status of all the towers and whether or not refurbishment would work. The Legislative Council was denied documents that the government has claimed it based its decision on, as was the case when the Victorian Supreme Court requested them in the recent human rights case initiated by residents with the support of Inner Melbourne Community Legal.

One of the consultants used to provide reports to the government was a USA-based real estate group Cushman and Wakefield, which specialises in researching profit opportunities for private investors and superannuation funds. There is evidence from housing minister Harriet Shing’s meetings with superannuation funds.

The National Housing Supply and Affordability Council (NHSAC)-established by the Albanese government soon after the 2022 election initiated a report into the financing of social (i.e., community, not public) and affordable housing. It released its report in July 2023: nhsac.gov.au/reports-and-submissions/barriers-institutional-investment-finance-and-innovation-housing-report

It was soon after its release and the call for large scale projects to encourage institutional investors, ex-Premier Dan Andrews announced in September 2023 the demolition plan. Seems very clear that the report and his announcement were linked.

The National Housing Accord now locks in the demolition of the towers: treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-11/has-vic.pdf

Community housing providers support the demolition plan

The NHSAC report also made clear that community housing providers are to be a major vehicle for delivering these private investor projects.

Community Housing Industry Association Victoria CEO Sarah Toohey was recently quoted in a local community newsletter The North and West Melbourne News as backing the demolition of 33 Alfred St, North Melbourne, citing how it would increase the supply of community housing over existing public housing but failed to mention the fact that the majority of new dwellings will be full market and 90 per cent market rent.

Residents of 33 Alfred St are very sceptical. They do not trust community housing to deliver the security they now enjoy. The Age also had a report recently that the government has been signing off on redevelopment plans that have apartments smaller than their own laws require.

Just how many community housing providers could make the transition to being private investor vehicles for the demolition plan is unknown. It is very likely that only a handful could do it, guaranteeing their dominance in the sector in Victoria.

Direct action works

The demolition of the 33 Alfred St, North Melbourne tower has already been contracted to John Holland. Around 70 residents and public housing supporters recently picketed the building stopping the contractor from carrying out preparatory works for its demolition. Direct action works and more has been promised.

Prepared with the assistance of the Save Public Housing Collective. •