More than 100 people, including public housing tenants, rallied at the Collingwood Estate on October 21 to oppose the demolition of 44 public housing towers.
Yarra City Councillors Stephen Jolly, Michael Glynatsis and Bridgid O鈥橞rien initiated the rally in response to the Victorian Labor government鈥檚 plans to demolish the towers for public-private developments.
Jolly, who chaired the rally, said only community action could 鈥渟top the wholesale destruction of our public space鈥. He said Labor鈥檚 housing plans will only benefit 鈥減roperty developers and push diverse communities out of Melbourne鈥.
Robbie Thorpe, from the Krautungalung tribe of the Gunnai nation, who previously lived on the Collingwood Estate, said many First Nations people rely on public housing and that colonisation ensured many remained homeless.
Greens leader and Melbourne MP Adam Bandt said Victoria鈥檚 housing announcement is part of a broader trend to 鈥済ive up on public housing鈥. He described it as privatisation by stealth.
Public housing tenants from different estates addressed the rally.
Valentyna Frolova, a resident from Wellington Street, was angry at plans to sell public land to private developers. She announced she 鈥渨ill not be moving out鈥.
Aisha Abdi, a public housing tenant聽for more than 20 years, expressed concern about housing for future generations. She said the demolitions disrupt tenants鈥 lives.
Katherine Ceballos, a resident from the Carlton Estate, slammed the sell-offs saying they are an attempt to drive public housing tenets into the suburbs. They prefer 鈥減eople with means living in the inner city over people like us鈥.
Rachel Evans from Action for Public Housing in Gadi/Sydney concluded the rally,聽expressing solidarity and urging a national public housing campaign.