Aussies have reacted with outrage and disbelief to a video showing African refugees complaining about the planned redevelopment of their Melbourne public housing tower home.
The video, shared by state Greens MP Gabrielle de Vietri, features a young woman and her mother expressing their concerns about the Labor state government’s 2023 plan to demolish and rebuild the aging high-rise complex in Fitzroy as it is not fit for purpose.
The Victorian government said the old towers do not meet modern standards, are plagued with structural issues and cannot be renovated, but residents will be given help finding new homes and the “right to return” after new community housing high-rises are built.
African refugees complain to a Greens MP about being relocated out of the public housing high-rise where they have lived for 22 years so it can be rebuilt.
The video has sparked backlash from everyday Aussies.
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The mother, named Akaer, told Ms de Vietri she had been living in the taxpayer-funded home since 2004 after arriving in Australia in 2003, and her daughter Eiman said she came in 2014 and moved in with her mum last year.
“You have to give us the chance to enjoy our life without having to be afraid … do we belong, or not? Because this is our community, and we want to stay here, we don’t want to leave, to be honest it doesn’t make sense why we have to leave,” Eiman said.
Eiman went on to compare the planned relocation to being forced to leave her homeland as a refugee, and said: “We’ve been moved from our land by force, so it’s basically like living that again.”
Ms de Vietri called Labor’s housing plan “outrageous”, but everyday Aussies responded by asking why the family should be entitled to free accommodation, and said public housing should be for Australians only.
“I’ve lived in four countries other than Australia. I never got nor expected handouts. These people are economic refugees. We are paying them to intentionally not work. As a veteran (with PTSD who works full time) I am pissed off,” one woman said on Facebook.
“22 years and 12 years in public housing. How long does it take to get on your feet? Regardless of refugee status many people arrive to Australia with nothing (I arrived with $1000) and are on their feet without any support,” wrote a local man.
“Being moved out of your area can happen to anyone including people who actually work hard and rent privately or own their property. 22 years and still in public housing. Seriously,” said another Facebook user.
Many more pointed out that Australian families were battling a cost-of-living and housing crisis and forced to live in tents as they could not afford rent.
Earlier this month Ms De Vietri attended a protest against the demolition plan along with “indigenous” former Greens senator Lidia Thorpe, who asked “why do people have to move? Why can’t we just refurbish?”
Ms de Vietri previously said the relocations “undermined [residents’] dignity and basic human rights”, and that community housing should not replace public housing as it is less affordable and secure.
Header image: Left, Eiman and Akaer. Right, African residents at a protest (The Greens).
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