Published on Wednesday, 25 June 2025
Inquiry into the redevelopment of Melbourne’s public housing towers
Inner Melbourne Community Legal appeared before the Legislative Council Legal and Social Issues Committee inquiry into the redevelopment of Melbourne’s public housing towers on Tuesday, 24 June.
IMCL Managing Lawyer for Housing and Tenancy Louisa Bassini gave evidence alongside Stephanie Price, Principal Lawyer at West Heidelberg Community Legal.
The hearing followed IMCL lodging an appeal in the Supreme Court on behalf of residents opposed to the demolition of three public housing towers in Flemington and North Melbourne. IMCL has provided legal advice and support to public housing tenants in the area for almost 50 years.
Ms Bassini referred to IMCL’s submission to the inquiry, and focussed on:
• The need for an enforceable right for residents to return to public housing if they wish to do so following the redevelopment of the estates.
• The history of poor consultation with residents and transparency about the future of public housing in the inner city, including during the 2021 housing towers lockdowns.
• The future of public housing in the inner city and the inadequacies of current government social housing policies that have a heavy reliance on the private sector.