Action for Public Housing organised a free sausage sizzle on January 29 as part of it work to build a big pre-election rally to demand housing justice in New South Wales.
The group is campaigning to pressure the Coalition government end its plans to demolish Waterloo public housing and evict the community. It says any changes to Waterloo should be focused on repairing and maintaining existing homes and keeping the community together.
The afternoon included eating sausages, listening to music and making art to showcase the views of many who say public housing must be expanded and there needs to be Aboriginal community-controlled housing.
Wiradjuri elder Lorna Munro, Uncle Dave Bell and Barney Gardner from the Save Millers Point campaign spoke about how to defend Waterloo.
Karyn Brown, Waterloo resident activist, and Carolyn Veg Ienna from Hands Off Glebe, plus two other Waterloo public housing tenants also spoke.
The NSW Coalition’s plan to demolish and privatise the estate has been delayed for six years, thanks in part to the campaign work of the Waterloo Public Housing Action Group, Tent Embassy, #WeLiveHere2017 and others.
Action for Public Housing believes the recent successful campaign to save the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence points the way for Waterloo to also be saved.
[Rachel Evans is active in Action for Public Housing. She is running for Socialist Alliance in Heffron.]