BE A CONCERNED CITIZEN - PICK UP THE PHONE NOW !!

VICTORIAN LABOR HAS ABUSED ITS POWERS - AND HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP STOP IT.  

Join in a Public Appeal to the Upper House of Parliament - Time is of the Essence. 
They are going to debate it on June 6.

Dear Supporter of Public Housing,

In March this year, Labor passed legislation to remove the planning powers from Metropolitan Councils to ensure they do not interfere with Labor's plans for the demolition and  privatisation of eleven inner-city public housing estates- aka Labor's 'Public Housing Renewal Program'.

This is unconscionable and undemocratic.

The Councils affected are those that have jurisdiction over the the targeted inner-city Public Housing estates.

In this way Labor can rubber-stamp any and all private property developments, sell-off our public land unopposed, overrule Council height restrictions, deny community consultation regarding a better deal for Public Housing in the face of 37,000 applications on the Public Housing Waiting List.

Labor's token increase of 10% more 'SOCIAL HOUSING' does not even guarantee true PUBLIC HOUSING - but can be owned / managed by private operators.

The projected outcome for the Public Housing Renewal Program will result in only 79 new additional 'social housing' units built for those in desperate need, while 2,040 private apartments will be built on what is now public land. Furthermore, 3-bedroom public housing dwellings suitable for families, will be knocked down and replaced with 1 and 2 bedroom apartments, so that the end result could be an actual decrease in capacity to house those in need!

https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/vulnerable-public-housing-tenants-in-limbo-as-redevelopments-proceed-20180401-p4z7br.html

 Labor's plans are indefensible.
The 'Public Housing Renewal Program' will do nothing for the 37,000 people on the public housing waiting list or those who are homeless in this great country of ours. Pity the homeless people without shelter in the cold and the rain.

We need to demand from governments that they do better. A whole lot better.

So what can be done?

The Greens have acted to block this piece of legislation -to ensure a return of proper planning powers to local councils and local communities. 

But - to achieve this, they need the support of other members of the Upper House of Parliament, including the Liberals and other smaller parties.

https://www.facebook.com/SamanthaRatnamGreens/videos/1083419908462886/

Please take a moment right now to ring the following parliamentarians.
Or ring them back during business hours.

SAY THAT YOU SUPPORT THE GREENS' MOTION TO RESTORE PROPER PLANNING RIGHTS TO COUNCILS - AND URGE THEM TO VOTE IN LINE WITH THE GREENS ON THIS MATTER. 

The first three names are very important. If the Liberals come onboard, then basically the whole flawed Public Housing Renewal Program will be back on the drawing board and we can hammer out a far better deal for people in desperate need of housing and the homeless. So please do your bit- it really is that important.

David Davis                  98276655         david.davis@parliament.vic.gov.au
Mary Wooldridge        9878 4113        mary.wooldridge@parliament.vic.gov.au
Gordon Rich-Phillips  9794 7667        gordon.rich-phillips@parliament.vic.gov.au


Georgie Crozier              9555 4101      Shadow Minister for Housing

Margaret Fitzherbert      9681 9555     Chair of the Upper House Inquiry

Rachel Carling-Jenkins  8742 3226    Australian Conservative Party

Fiona Patten                   93864400      Reason Party

James Purcel                  55682929      Independent


You can also email them. Simply write their name in lowercase with a dot between first and second names and add the following address-  @parliament.vic.gov.au

Quote by John Kavanagh- Mayor of Moreland,

"Like every caring Victorian, I'm deeply concerned about the sell-off of public land and deeply concerned about the so-called 'Renewal Program'. This is a SHAM- this is a CON-and needs to be called out for what it is"

Sources
The updated Public Housing Waiting List is now 37,000 applications ( the actual number of people in need of housing would of course be far greater.  http://www.margaretfitzherbert.com.au/speeches/member-statement-markham-estate-ashburton/