# Labor and Greens clash over public housing in Melbourne

> Labor’s public housing plan sparks Richmond fight with Greens ahead of election.
- Title: Labor and Greens clash over public housing in Melbourne
- Summary: Labor’s public housing plan sparks Richmond fight with Greens ahead of election. Labor’s redevelopment of Melbourne public housing towers faces backlash from…
- Keywords: victorian public housing, richmond electorate, australian greens, labor government, melbourne election, public housing towers, ben carroll, gabrielle de vietri, sarah mckenzie, victorian greens, melbourne public housing, public housing redevelopment
- Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/04/labor-greens-public-housing-battle-2026-victoria-election
- Published: 2026-10-03T19:00:07+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: victorian public housing, richmond electorate, australian greens, labor government, melbourne election, public housing towers, ben carroll, gabrielle de vietri, sarah mckenzie, victorian greens, melbourne public housing, public housing redevelopment
## Pauline’s housing move
Richmond public housing resident Pauline was relocated from her home of more than 30 years after the block was scheduled to be demolished by the state government.
## Pauline’s relocation pressure
Pauline says she felt pressured to move into an apartment in another high-rise on the block or risk being removed from the housing waitlist.
## Greens MP’s criticism
Victorian Greens MP for Richmond, Gabrielle de Vietri, says Melbourne’s public housing towers have become an emblem of Labor ‘turning its back’ on issues it once championed.

> Melbourne’s public housing towers have become an emblem of Labor ‘turning its back’ on issues it once championed
## Labor’s election strategy
Labor sees an opportunity to regain city seats with targeted policies such as allowing dogs in pubs and extending trading hours.
## Greens’ electoral gains
The Greens currently hold Melbourne, Richmond and Brunswick and have repeatedly attempted to reclaim Northcote, making it the most marginal electorate in the state.
## Greens’ polling confidence
Demos tracking the Greens at 14%, up from 11.5% in 2022, with YouGov and Roy Morgan’s September federal polls putting their Victorian primary vote at 18% and 16% respectively.
## Socialists’ critique
The Victorian Socialists argue the Greens have become a professional-class party made up of ‘landlords’ and ‘CEOs of NGOs’ rather than working-class people.

> The Greens have become a professional-class party made up of ‘landlords’ and ‘CEOs of NGOs’ rather than working-class people
## Labor’s redevelopment plans
Labor has committed to overturn a ban on drinking in a popular Carlton median strip, redevelopment of cohealth’s Collingwood site, allowing dogs in pubs and expanding trading hours to 3am.
## Labor candidate’s stance
Labor candidate Sarah McKenzie supports the government’s plan for the public housing towers, saying some buildings have ‘serious issues’.

> some buildings have ‘serious issues’
## Public housing redevelopment plan
The state government plans to quadruple the Highett Street site from 200 to 800 homes, with 150 earmarked for social housing and 650 under a build-to-rent model.
## Residents’ concerns
Nineteen-year-old Leonie, who has lived in public housing her whole life, felt residents had little choice but to accept the redevelopment.
## Key takeaway

Labor’s redevelopment of Melbourne public housing towers faces backlash from Greens and residents ahead of November election.