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In comments addressed to State Housing Minister Colin Brooks, Dr Ratnam said: “In fact your Government’s plans will privatise the estate, with the majority handed over to private developers and with the minority of the dwellings transferred to community housing providers.

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“In the midst of a housing affordability crisis we should not be giving away public land to private developers when we can use it to build thousands more public homes.

Br Ratnam spoke of a protest by local community members:

“Residents like Margaret and Jeanie spoke passionately and with distress about their experience of being doorknocked just before Christmas and being asked to leave their homes of over 25 years in some cases.

“The residents welcome refurbishment of their estate and welcome more public housing to be built on site.

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“It was clearly misinformation about what was happening at this public housing estate, so much so that Twitter has placed a community note, which is essentially a misinformation warning, on your tweet.

“Minister, will you apologise for posting misinformation on social media about the purpose of the community rally, which was to oppose the demolition of public housing and oppose the privatisation of this estate?

Ms Blandthorn: :Again, thank you, Dr Ratnam. I will pass it to the Minister for Housing for a response.”

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“Minister, why won’t the Andrews Labor Government build more public housing at Barak Beacon estate?”

Lizzie Blandthorn, Minister, said:

“Thank you, Dr Ratnam, for the question or the Minister for

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■ Nominations are open for Kingston’s inaugural Sustainable Business Awards. The awards, which are being supported by Community Bank Parkdale, have been established as a platform for the business community to celebrate their achievements in a broad range of sustainability initiatives.

Nominations close on Sunday (June 25). Winners will be announced at a Gala on October 25.

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