Marles backs Real Deal Geelong priorities

DEPUTY Prime Minister and Corio federal member Richard Marles is backing initiatives suggested by the Real Deal Geelong Alliance aimed at improving social housing, cost of living, public transport and energy savings.

Speaking at the Real Deal forum at the North Shore Football Club in Norlane on November 13, Mr Marles said he would advocate to federal Housing Minister Clare O’Neil to seek an audit of vacant Commonwealth government land to be used for social housing.

Mr Marles also committed to writing to Ms O’Neil and her Victorian government counterparts to encourage implementation of a ground lease model on vacant government land in Geelong, and to facilitate a meeting between the alliance, Ms O’Neil and the Victorian ministers on this issue and planning laws to facilitate more investment in social housing.

Mr Marles told attendees at last week’s meeting that during his career in politics, the single biggest public policy challenge was how to tackle the question of poverty and disenfranchisement in communities such as Corio, Norlane, Newcomb and Whittington.

“We can see things happening but the reality is that the situation is trending in the wrong direction,” he said.

“In that context, this meeting represents the community coming together to maximise your voice and start thinking through what solutions might be there to genuinely move the needle, to change the dial in these communities.”

Mr Marles said he had an “absolute commitment” to working with Real Deal on an ongoing basis.

The forum included presentations from those with lived experience about the impact of a lack of social housing on community members
and the need for household upgrades in the private rental market to make homes safe, healthy and more energy-efficient.

Mr Marles said the Renew Australia For All campaign (which Real Deal Geelong is supporting) was “driving a conversation amongst decision-makers right now in Canberra” and the federal government had a role to play in terms of enabling households to electrify.

He committed to meet with members of the Real Deal Alliance and the Business Council of Co-operatives to discuss how worker co-operatives could be supported in Geelong and beyond to provide more services such as home energy efficiency services.

He also agreed to attend a community lunch at Norlane Community Centre to report back on the questions raised at the forum before the next federal election.

Real Deal organiser Sally Fisher said she was delighted with Mr Marles’ understanding of the alliance’s priorities and his commitment to working with the alliance and amplifying its voice.

For more information about Real Deal Geelong, head to arealdeal.org/geelong