A parliamentary inquiry is underway into the Victorian government’s controversial plan to demolish and rebuild 44 public housing towers across Melbourne, a move described by officials as necessary to provide modern homes, but questioned by experts and residents as potentially overlooking viable alternatives.
The inquiry, established by the Legal and Social Issues Committee of the Victorian Legislative Council, is examining the rationale, cost modelling, and potential impacts of the government’s decision, including whether refurbishment or retrofitting could offer a better outcome for residents and the community.
The hearings, which are broadcast live and documented in Hansard, have attracted submissions from a wide range of organisations and individuals opposed to the blanket demolition approach.
Victorian Housing Minister Harriet Shing has defended the plan, arguing that residents deserve more than “band-aids on 1960s concrete” and that the towers are long overdue for replacement.
The government contends that the towers, built between the 1950s and 1970s, fail to meet modern building codes for noise, sustainability, accessibility, and amenity, and that even significant repairs would not bring them up to standard.
The redevelopment aims to increase the number of homes on the sites from 10,000 to 30,000, with a promised boost in social housing by at least 10 per cent.
However, critics — including architects, community groups, and public housing residents — have challenged the lack of transparency and consultation, and questioned whether demolition is the only or best solution.
The government has faced criticism for not providing evidence on the status of all towers or whether refurbishment could be effective, and for denying access to key decision-making documents requested by both the Legislative Council and the Supreme Court in a recent human rights case brought by residents.
Associate Professor Trivess Moore, an expert in sustainable housing at RMIT University, has called for a more nuanced and evidence-based approach: “By announcing a blanket approach to knock down and rebuild all the towers, the government may be missing opportunities to deliver better housing outcomes — and should provide more evidence to support its decision making.
“Given the current challenges Victoria faces around housing demand, environmental impact and a constrained government budget, retrofitting the existing towers may be a better option.
“Retrofitting the towers could improve liveability and affordability for tenants but also reduce the embodied carbon impact and at the same time maintain the existing community.”
Moore noted that both in Australia and overseas, there are numerous successful examples of retrofitting high-density housing in a cost-effective way.
He added that in some cases, upgrades have been carried out without requiring residents to relocate — minimising disruption for those living in the buildings.
While acknowledging that retrofitting may not be appropriate for every tower, Moore argued it should be considered on a case-by-case basis to determine the most effective financial, social, and environmental outcomes.
The inquiry is set to report by December 2025, with further public hearings scheduled and the debate over the future of Melbourne’s public housing towers continuing to draw widespread attention and strong opinions from all sides.
