BAIRD CUTS ACCESS TO VITAL COMMUNAL SPACES FOR SOCIAL HOUSING RESIDENTS

Shadow Minister for Social Housing Tania Mihailuk has revealed that the Baird Government has embarked on a secret plan to convert central communal living spaces within social housing complexes into single bedroom apartments.

NSW Labor can reveal that the Baird Government is currently trialling the plan throughout several local government areas such as Bankstown, Holroyd and Parramatta, but is looking to roll out the conversion plan across the entire social housing stock of NSW which is causing affected residents serious anxiety.        

Quotes attributable to Shadow Minister for Social Housing Tania Mihailuk

“The Baird Government’s plan to convert the communal spaces within social housing complexes is a devastating loss to these communities.”

“These spaces serve almost as a communal lounge room. For these residents, many of whom are elderly, their neighbours are the only family they have and these spaces facilitate the whole community coming-together, and are a central place where they can all connect and support each other.”

“We hear a lot about this government cracking down hard on bad social housing tenants but these residents are respectful, law-abiding people who deserve to be applauded for their good behaviour, not penalised by a mean and stingy government looking to cut corners on their social housing budget.”

“We know that Mike Baird is reaping the benefits of the state’s massive $7.29 billion stamp duty windfall from 2014/15 budget, and yet he still feels the need to save a cheap dollar by bulldozing the physical heart of our most vulnerable social housing communities.”