Public housing residents and activists gathered on the steps of Victorian Parliament on June 22 to protest again against Barak Beacon Estate’s demolition in Port Melbourne and the erosion of public housing by Homes Victoria.
“The Victorian government bullies those who don’t have the resources to fight them … the privatisation of public housing effects the whole community,” one activist told Green Left.
Meanwhile, at the Barak Beacon Estate, trees have been reduced to woodchips while the buildings have been stripped to reveal solid foundations capable of serving residents’ housing needs for decades to come.
Margaret Kelly, who is the last remaining resident at the estate, fronted a Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal meeting on June 22. She said no reconstruction contracts had been awarded and that there is no need for immediate demolition. VCAT has reserved its judgement until June 28.
Demonstrations have been organised weekly throughout June by Public Housing — Everybody’s Business.
Campaigners are urging the public to attend the last protest of this campaign on June 29 at 12pm to show their opposition to Homes Victoria’s “Big Build” and support public housing residents.
[Support the Save Barak Beacon campaign by joining the Facebook group, donating, signing an E-petition to parliament and writing a letter to housing minister Colin Brooks.]