Ms THEOPHANOUS (Northcote): My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Housing, and the action that I seek is that the minister update my community on the progress of the social housing units being built within the electorate of Northcote. In my electorate 335 people are listed as experiencing homelessness on any given night. They will be sleeping rough or in crowded boarding houses, couch surfing or perhaps, if they are lucky, they have managed to find themselves in short-term crisis accommodation. Thousands more are suffering under housing stress. The causes are varied and complex. We know that family violence leaves women especially vulnerable to homelessness. Addiction, mental illness, disability and trauma, when coupled with rising rental costs and insecure work, leave so many without a safety net. Every one of these people deserves respect, dignity and a safe place to call home.
My electorate is home to several public housing estates, which I have had the fortune of visiting. Several have been in disrepair for years and tenants have been suffering under conditions that they should not have to. I have spoken about this before in this place: homes that are hot in summer and cold in winter, lack of access for people with disabilities or the elderly, and poor safety, leaving families even more vulnerable. The Andrews government is investing to renew these dilapidated buildings in Northcote and Preston. These renewal projects will provide modern, safe, energy-efficient homes for more residents.
Minister, we have spoken in the past about my passion for updating the current stock as well as seeing an increase in the stock that we have. As the minister knows, I want to see more quality public and community housing in my electorate, and I am keen to see my community get its fair share of the 1000 new homes that have been promised. Of course this is just part of the solution to housing affordability and homelessness, but it is a crucial part. We are fortunate to have within the Labor Party many strong supporters of public housing, and I want to acknowledge the work of the Labor Housing Group, who are helping to drive us in the direction of an even more expansive policy like inclusionary zoning.
We are fortunate that over many years we have seen Labor ministers such as the Minister for Housing and the member for Albert Park, and premiers such as the current Premier, who have possessed a drive to have better public housing. I could not help but note the minister’s moving words about the work in this space of the late and great John Cain, Jr.
Opportunities for increasing our supply of housing should not be seen as an economic burden; in fact they are a stimulus. When we lift people up, when we give them opportunity and hope, the whole community benefits. I know the minister is as passionate about this as I am, and I know that he shares the view that the rising tide floats all boats. My community would welcome an update on the progress of the government’s work in providing more social housing units within the electorate of Northcote.
