‘No mandate for extra homes’

■ Malvern MLA Mich ael O’Brien told State Parliament last week that the Andrews Government has no mandate for extra homes in the inner suburbs.

“One of the many things I love about my Malvern electorate is the beauty of its streetscapes,” Mr O’Brien told the Legislative Assembly.

“This is a love shared by my constituents, who make suburbs like Malvern, Malvern East, Armadale, Glen Iris, Toorak and Kooyong home.

“We choose to live in these amazing communities because amenity matters, heritage matters and parks matter.

“This is why planning laws matter as well. So it is with a sense of dread that I read in The Age of April 19 an article headed: State government weighs new powers to jam in 1 million more homes.

“It states: “Local councils could be cut from decision-making on major development projects under a bold plan being considered by the Andrews Government to help squeeze an extra million homes into Melbourne’s suburbs by 2050.

“Labor did not go to the last election promising to jam an extra million homes into our established suburbs.

Long Shots

be. When it comes to planning decisions, councils can be streamlined but they should never be sidelined.

“I will fight to protect the amenity of my community and the right of my local residents to have their voices heard about planning decisions that affect their homes, their streets and their community,” Mr O’Brien said.

Diversity speech

■ Prahran MLA Sam Hibbens spoke in Parliament last week about IDAHOBIT Day.

“Today is International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, and I rise to stand with the LGBTIQA+ communities against the campaign of hate, this ideology of hate, that is being waged against them,” Mr Hibbens said.

“This is a far-right ideology that is focused on one thing: the persecution of a minority – something we have seen time and time again throughout history.