Housing: At What Cost?

The incessant media cycle continues to screech “we are in a housing crisis”.

No doubt we need more homes if the population is going to continue to explode, Melbourne is already the largest city in the country. The immigration influx is a federal government decision that councils and states struggle to deal with. The lack of infrastructure investment by State Government and Councils is at the heart of these policy announcements by the Premier.

Like many I have recently read everything I can get my hands on around this topic. It is vital we understand all of the information and don’t just listen to the YIMBY (Yes in my backyard) pro every development OR NIMBY (not in my backyard) anti-everything narratives.

The thing is the NIMBY brand is being weaponised. It is disingenuously used to dismiss many who understand we need more housing and are open to growth yet remain concerned about HOW this is done. Melburnians are not stupid; we know growth is a fact of life.  

The issue here is the State Government is taking us all for fools. They have no intention of listening. The role of any Government, Opposition or crossbench – indeed ANY elected official – is to listen.

We know our Councils already have a listening crisis, we also know the State has relegated listening to that thing we claim we do, you know the “Claytons listen”. We ticked a box and took notes, but they went right in the bin.

The premier did not come up with the announcements in a vacuum. She had a lot of help.

So, now that Ministers diary appointments are public records – I did some reading.

Who have the Ministers for Housing, Local Government, Planning and the Premier been speaking with, especially when it comes to Housing?

Here is a summary:

The Premier

Aside from meeting unions and Indigenous groups regularly to discuss treaty, the premier met with YIMBY (Yes in My Backyard) in June to “discuss housing matters”.

She also met with the Age and News Corp – an interesting observation.

Minister for Housing – Harriet Shing

·         Homes Victoria (March 24)

·         Real deal Geelong – to discuss Social Housing (March 24)

·         DJIRRA – to discuss Indigenous Housing (March 24)

·         Ministerial Homelessness Advisory Group (March 24)

·         Urban Affairs Policy Committee (April 24)

·         Vic Public Tenants Association (April 24)

·         Baggarook – Indigenous Housing (April 24)

·         VIC Trades Hall Council – including CFMEU, ETU, AMWU (April 24)

·         Sam Hibbins – Greens MP (April 24)

·         Arcadis Global - Global Infrastructure Projects | Arcadis  (April 24)

·         Property Council of Australia (April 24)

·         Ngwala Willumbong – Indiegnous Housing (April 24)

·         Housing Statement Industry Advisory Body (April 24)

·         HESTA Super (April 24)

·         Hostplus (April 24)

·         CBUS Super (April 24)

·         St George Community Housing (May 24)

·         National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Housing Association (May 24)

·         Rumba Iara – Indigenous Housing (May 24)

·         Victorian Public Tenants Association (May 24)

·         Housing and Homelessness Ministerial Council (May 24)

·         YIMBY (Yes in my backyard) (June 24)

·         Kids Under Cover (June 24)

·         Housing Statement Industry Advisory Body (June 24)

·         Community Housing Industry Association (June 24)

·         Housing for the Aged Action Group (June 24)

·         Ministerial Homelessness Reform Advisory Group (June 24)

·         Victorian Council of Social Service (June 24)

·         Victorian Auditor-General's Office (June 24)

·         Urban Development Institute of Australia (June 24)

·         Flemington Housing Estate (June 24)

·         Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation (June 24)

·         Housing Industry Association (June 24)

The minister also met with a few Councils around housing, but these were mostly regional issues.

Planning Minister

·         MAB Corporation - Developer (April 24)

·         Urban Development Institute of Australia Roundtable (April 24)

·         Australian Apartment Advocacy (April 24)

·         Australian Institute of Architects (April 24)

·         R Corp – Developer (April 24)

·         Property Council of Australia (April 24)

·         Housing Statement Industry Advisory Body (April 24)

·         Super Housing Partnerships (May 24)

·         Urban Design Forum (May 24)

·         Master Builders Victoria (May 24)

·         Planning Institute of Australia (May 24)

·         Lendlease – Developer (May 24)

·         Urban Development Institute of Australia (May 24)

·         Victorian Planning and Environmental Law Association (May 24)

·         Housing Industry Association (May 24)

·         Housing Statement Industry Advisory Body (June 24)

·         Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (June 24)

·         Australian Property Developers Association (June 24)

·         MIRVAC – Developer (June 24)

·         Australian Construction Industry Forum (June 24)

·         Community Housing Industry Association Roundtable (June 24)

So, it is clear that there is a lot of discussion with Indigenous and Homeless organisations, fair enough. There also seems to be a moderate level of discussion with some developers and associated experts like architects and sustainability companies. Unions still figure heavily and still have massive access to Ministers.

There also seems to be lots of roundtable and working group discussions, but a KEY ingredient seems missing – ordinary residents.

We know there were lots of complaints around the community consultation on the Suburban Rail Loop, the activity centres (Activity Centres | Engage Victoria) and now the same will occur with the 25 of the 50 announced growth zones.

The role of any Government is to listen.

That does not mean to listen only to those who you agree with, that is an echo chamber.

Good governance requires ALL voices to be heard, respected, invited, worked through, and listened to.

Perhaps the Premier and Minister have failed to ask to the first question:

“Do we want to live in a city the same as London, but bigger?”.

I think we know the answer but would be keen for your thoughts.

Answer our Melbourne Density questionnaire here in 30 seconds, it might be the only real consultation on the topic ever done.

Survey here: https://forms.wix.com/r/7256049844823785853

Complete survey

You can also come along to our Housing Forum: