Victoria’s public housing tower demolition programme has become a central issue ahead of the state election, with tenants facing relocation as opposition parties pledge to halt or review Labor’s $12 billion plan.
Lyrae Fiddes, who lives in an Albert Park Housing Commission tower for older people, was told in January that her building would be demolished. She had moved there two years earlier after losing her home and job, and now fears being forced to move again in her 60s.
“It was complete and utter shock,” she said. “It’s a serious amount of pressure; there’s a lot of stress in the building because people are fearful.”
The Labor government announced in September 2023 that all 44 public housing towers across Victoria would be demolished and rebuilt. The blocks, constructed between the 1950s and 1970s to house more than 10,000 residents, were described by then-premier Daniel Andrews as no longer fit for purpose.
Labor said tenants would be moved into alternative accommodation during the work. But public housing campaigners and residents have questioned whether every tower needs to be demolished, saying financial and structural reports supporting the decision have not been fully released.
“We’ve been told by various housing ministers and premiers they’re not fit for purpose but none of the supporting documentation or very little … has been released,” said Jackson Payne, founder of Stop the Demos.
The government attracted criticism in November 2023 after refusing a parliamentary request to unseal 146 documents reportedly said to contain evidence that demolition was the only option. The plan has since faced the findings of an inquiry, legal challenges and concern from the United Nations, but Labor is continuing with the project.
Opposition parties pledge to halt tower demolitions
Hundreds of residents have already been displaced from some inner-city towers, while thousands more are waiting to be moved. With Albert Park tenants facing their own departure date, Ms Fiddes sees the election as a possible turning point.
“Labor doesn’t look like Labor anymore … and so now we’re looking at our other options,” she said. “My hope and my belief is there will be enough pressure to stop the demolition and then revisit other options.”
The Liberals have promised a review of public housing if they win a majority on November 28. Housing spokesman David Southwick told a Victorian Council of Social Service summit that the party would pause further demolitions and repair towers where possible.
“We will certainly pause to ensure no more of those towers will be demolished,” he said. “And where we can fix them up, we’ll fix them up.”
The Greens have pledged an initial $4 billion to stop the demolitions and double the number of public homes by building 88,000 new properties, while maintaining and upgrading existing housing. Victorian Socialists have also promised to halt the demolitions and refurbish the towers to “a high standard”.
One Nation has made no public housing commitments and did not respond to a request for comment.
Gabrielle De Vietri, the Greens MP for Richmond, is campaigning against the demolition programme. “It has absolutely no friends,” she said. “There is pushback from every sector.”
She also expressed concern that the government had not set out how much of the redeveloped land would remain public housing. “I’m very concerned the government has no plans to build any public housing on this land,” she said.
Tenants await High Court decision
Tenants are also waiting for the outcome of a High Court appeal brought on their behalf by Inner Melbourne Community Legal. The proceedings have suspended the demolition of three towers in North Melbourne and Flemington, where only a small number of residents remain.
Inner Melbourne Community Legal chief executive Nadia Morales said a successful appeal would require the decision to be reconsidered through a lawful and consultative process.
“A successful appeal would validate the voices of public housing residents and would require the decision to be reconsidered through a lawful, consultative process,” she said.
“But whatever the outcome, the election presents an opportunity for all political parties to take a substantially different approach … and put the rights and needs of public housing renters and Victorians under housing stress at the centre of the decision-making process.”
The judgment is expected in mid-December. Labor’s redevelopment programme is scheduled to run until 2051, with the towers due to be replaced by a combination of private rentals and additional social housing.
Social housing includes both community and public housing. Community housing is operated by third parties and charges about 30 per cent of a tenant’s income, alongside property, service and utility charges.
Ms Fiddes said those costs and the conditions attached to new accommodation were another source of anxiety. “Just the sheer costs that are going to go up, having to move into a building that has an embedded electricity network, I have no choice in my provider,” she said. “It’s, it’s like they’re consistently taking our rights away one by one.”
Polling has indicated the Coalition has the strongest chance of forming a majority government, leading Labor and One Nation on primary votes.
