April 22, 2024 | Katie Wand
On Tuesday 23 April, the Victorian Government’s application to have the public housing class action thrown out of the Supreme Court will be heard.
Last year, the Victorian Government announced that it would retire 44 public housing towers in Victoria by 2051, as part of Victoria’s Housing Statement. This has sparked concern among some community groups that the rights of the tower residents have not been considered in this decision.
As a result, Inner Melbourne Community Legal has filed a class action against the Victorian Government, claiming it is failing to protect the human rights of public housing residents affected by the retirement of the towers. The decision on 23 April will determine whether the class action will go ahead.
The Federation of Community Legal Centres acknowledges the importance of this case, as a way of determining the compatibility of the government’s decision to demolish the towers with its obligation to uphold the human rights of the towers’ residents.
The Federation of Community Legal Centres highlights Inner Melbourne Community Legal’s emphasis on ensuring that residents are heard, and that there is a fair process behind the retirement of public housing that protects the human rights of the affected residents. The Federation also recognises the importance of legal action which seeks to enforce Victoria’s Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (Vic) to ensure that Victoria’s human rights framework is robust.
Louisa Gibbs, CEO at the Federation of Community Legal Centres said: “Respect for the human rights of all Victorians must be placed at the centre of all government decisions. For this to happen in the case of the demolition of the 44 public housing towers, it is critical that the government listens and considers the voices of the affected residents, and acts with transparency and fairness.”
