Greens Member for Newtown, Jenny Leong MP has today called on the NSW Government to support Aboriginal specific affordable housing in Redfern and Waterloo.

The Redfern Waterloo Alliance launched their campaign today seeking action from the NSW government on the provision of and clear targets for Aboriginal affordable housing in the Redfern Waterloo area. Greens Member for Newtown and Housing and Homelessness spokesperson, Jenny Leong MP, and Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Australian Greens spokesperson on Housing, welcomed the launch – and offered their commitment to the demands of the campaign.

Jenny Leong MP, Member for Newtown and NSW Greens spokesperson on Housing and Homelessness says,

“I fully support this important campaign calling for real action and the delivery of affordable housing for Aboriginal people living in the Redfern and Waterloo area.

“Redfern and Waterloo sit on Gadigal land, it is land that was never ceded – and it is long overdue that the NSW Government gave priority to ensuring that Aboriginal housing sits at the heart of our inner city community – we will be doing everything we can to ensure this campaign succeeds.”

Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Australian Greens spokesperson on Housing says, 

“Aboriginal communities have longstanding roots in Redfern and Waterloo, and the right to self-determination. It is critical that Aboriginal people and their organisations lead efforts to improve and expand housing in these communities.

“For too long, social housing that meets the needs of communities simply hasn’t been sufficiently provided. It’s time to change that.

“The Greens give our full and enthusiastic support to the Redfern Waterloo Alliance of Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations and Allies for this important campaign,” she said.

We are so pleased and hopeful that Lidia Thorpe has this week formally joined our team as the newest Australian Greens Senator. After the Victorian Parliament held a joint sitting to confirm her as a Federal Senator for Victoria, Lidia took her place in the Greens Federal Party Room.

Greens Member for Newtown, Jenny Leong MP has goven notice of a motion to debate the still unresolved issue of Aboriginal deaths in Police custody.

The Aboriginal Housing Company has submitted modified plans for the Pemulwuy Project which includes aboriginal affordable housing and student housing on The Block. These plans and the submissions regarding this new proposal are currently being reviewed by the Independent Planning Commission and you can find details here.

Statement in Parliament on the rally for Aboriginal justice and sovereignty in Redfern and the movement to recognise January 26 as Invasion Day. 

The NSW Greens remain clear in voicing our concerns about the potential repercussions of the current Pemulwuy Project proposal on the community of Redfern.

Our submission to the Department of Planning on 27 October, 2017 focused on our concern about the current proposal to see 596 housing units dedicated to student accommodation in Precinct 3 of the development. We note that the Department of Planning & Environment has already approved a 6 storey dwelling that accommodates 154 students. We remain concerned at the extent of the already approved housing given there are a mere 62 units being dedicated to Aboriginal housing on land that has for more than four decades been dedicated to Aboriginal housing.

The Block is highly significant in terms of Aboriginal cultural and social heritage in NSW and Australia. It has a rich history of Aboriginal culture, activism and community building. This proposal comes at the end of many decades of plans and engagement by members the Redfern Aboriginal community to maintain and improve Aboriginal housing on this site.

In order to remain faithful to the history of the land and the promise of the project started in the 1970’s, the primary and overriding character of any redevelopment should focus on providing housing for Aboriginal people.

Read in Parliament on 10 November 2016:

"I draw the attention of the House to the achievements of the Redfern All Blacks rugby league football club. The club was officially founded in 1944 and is the oldest Aboriginal rugby league football club in the country. This year the Redfern All Blacks men's team won the trophy in the grand final of the Sydney Combined Competition and very recently also won the prestigious Koori Knockout competition for the second year in a row. The Redfern All Blacks women's team made it to the semi‑final of the Sydney Metro Women's Rugby League Division 1 and were also champions at the Koori Knockout, winning the women's competition.

I congratulate all of the players, team officials, volunteers and supporters who have been part of a great year."

Link:

• Redfern All Blacks

Today NSW Greens Aboriginal Justice and Police Spokesperson, David Shoebridge MP, and Member for Newtown and NSW Greens Human Rights spokesperson, Jenny Leong MP, expressed serious concern at actions taken by the police in an attempt to shut down a peaceful protest marking the tragic death of Aboriginal boy TJ Hickey in Redfern.

The matter is in the NSW Supreme Court this morning at 10am.

Greens MP for Newtown Jenny Leong will visit a number of events across the electorate of Newtown on Tuesday, January 26^th, recognising Australia’s long and lasting Aboriginal history, and welcoming new Australians from across the seas to the local area.

Ms Leong will join the Invasion Day 2016 march, which begins at The Block in Redfern, and also visit the Yabun festival of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Festival in Victoria Park Camperdown.