Activists rallied in Melbourne on December 8 to defend and extend public housing.
The Victorian government and housing minister Wendy Lovell are attempting to privatise public housing and give greater power to the non-transparent Housing Associations. These Housing Associations have been criticised for not being accountable to the people and communities they claim to serve.
Rally organiser Greg Oke said "Public Housing is a hallmark of a civilised society and its commitment to those have experienced trauma and great hardships, the marginalised, economically disadvantaged and the vulnerable.
"We must not stand by and let the economic rationalist agenda destroy the lives and throw these people out on the streets. It's in excess of 9000 people sleeping rough in Melbourne and surrounding municipalities."
Photos by Ali Bakhtiarvandi: