March 2023 edition
Franklyn Report Launched
We are fighting to save our homes!” declared public housing tenant and Hands off Glebe Secretary Emily Valentine.
Emily was speaking at the launch at Sydney Town Hall of The Franklyn Report.
Produced by Hands off Glebe with support from the Glebe Society, it presents the social, environmental and financial benefits of renovation rather than demolition and privatisation of public housing.
Franklyn Street is an excellent public housing complex in Glebe with over 100 tenants who love their homes and gardens. The NSW Government plans to demolish the homes and gardens and-place them with ugly towers with 70 per cent private units and a miserly 30 per cent public housing.
The pamphlet was launched by Deputy Lord Mayor Sylvie Ellsmore with supporting speeches from ALP Shadow Housing Minister Rose Jackson and Dr Elizabeth Farrelly, writer, architecture critic, former City of Sydney Councillor and Upper House candidate in the March state election. Councillor Ellsmore moved a motion at Council on 13 March celebrating the launch of The Franklyn Report, and congratulating Hands off Glebe and the Glebe Society.
see also the motion passed at City of Sydney on March 13th https://www.glebegrapevine.org/2023/03/council-endorses-franklyn-report/
Housing Justice Rally Feb 11
A number of public housing advocate groups including Hands off Glebe and Action for Public Housing, organised a ‘housing justice rally on February 11.
There was a good attendance and noisy march to the Archibald Fountain in Hyde Park.
We condemned the NSW Government’s unfair and brutal Communities Plus program which sees public housing estates demolished, communities devastated, land privatised and rebuilds of 70 % private and just 30% housing.
Glebe is experiencing this treatment.
The brutality of this treatment is the reason why we are calling for ‘housing justice.
We want real action on housing and funding,
from Housing Justice Feb 11
not alienation, demolition and privatisation!
Greens Candidate Speaks
Proud to value public housing
I’m so proud to be part of a community that values public housing.
Unfortunately that is not the case for everyone.
The last NSW Labor government racked up a $300 million main-tenance backlog and saw up to 900 public housing homes sold off each year.
Under the Liberals, maintenance remains chronically underfunded and homes are still being sold off, including whole suburbs like Millers Point.
I have worked alongside Jamie Parker MP to successfully defend homes in Glebe from sell off. I absolutely oppose the sale of public housing, will invest more in maintenance, and give tenants the respect they deserve.
I will always stand up for public housing residents and I look forward to continuing this important work with our community.
Feel free to contact me on 0450691195 or by email at kobi@kobishetty.org.au if you’d like to speak with me at any time.
Kobi Shetty
Greens candidate for Balmain
Councillor, Inner West Council
ALP candidate speaks
Labor will stop sale of public housing
If Labor is elected on March 25, we will stop the sale of public housing in NSW.
Without your number 1 vote for Labor this election, we risk four more years of the Liberals. Since 2011, the Liberals have sold off over 4,200 public houses and pocketed more than $3 billion. If they get four more years in power, this will continue.
Labor will build new public and affordable housing through our 30% mandatory public and affordable housing targets, because every person deserves a home.
A Labor Government will properly fund social housing maintenance so that you have a safe and clean home to live in.
We’ll fight the rental crisis by banning rent bidding and no grounds evictions, allow pets in rentals, and introduce rental bonds.
We need to change the government, and the only way to do that is to Vote 1 Labor here in Balmain.
Philippa Scott
ALP candidate for Balmain
The Grapevine invited Liberal candidate Freya Leach to contribute her policy on public housing but we did not receive a reply
Meeting at Minister for Homes’ Office March 3rd
A Hands off Glebe delegation consisting of 3 residents of homes slated for demolition in Franklyn Street and Wentworth Park Road plus supporters visited the Minister for Homes on Friday March 3.
Minister Anthony Roberts met us and made the following statements: “my door is always open”, “no government has spent more on homelessness” and “I couldn’t come to Glebe because I was busy in Lismore”.
We doubt his commitment to listening but we leave assessment of his role in regard to public housing to NSW voters.
Picket to Fund Public Housing March 9
Members and supporters of Hands off Glebe were joined by students from the University of Sydney to demand more funding of public housing rather than demolitions and evictions.
Speakers included election candidates Kobi Shetty (Greens), James Mcillroy (Socialist Alliance, Maire Sheehan (Elizabeth Farrelly Independents). The ALP apologised.
Quick news items:
We have sent numerous DA objections to the destruction of 82 Wentworth Park Rd.
Save Sadie King’s house
We are trying to save Sadie King’s home from being sold off by the NSW Government.
Get your copy of the Franklyn Report
Copies cost $10 or whatever you can afford. Send your order and postal address to glebegrapevine@gmail.com or text 0418 290 663. Online copies are not available