Media release: The homeless deserve a fair go
MEDIA RELEASE
9 March 2025
The PILCH Homeless Persons’ Legal Clinic (HPLC) has cautiously welcomed today’s strengthening of Victoria’s anti-discrimination laws, but calls on the Government to give people experiencing homelessness a fair go.
Today the Brumby government has announced the introduction of a number of changes to the Equal Opportunity Act 1995 (Vic), recommended in an independent review by former Public Advocate Julian Gardner in June 2008. The HPLC welcomes many of these measures, including giving the Human Rights Commission the power to initiate investigations into discrimination if it believes there is evidence it exists. However, the government has ignored two key recommendations from Mr Gardner’s report – that ‘homelessness’ and ‘irrelevant criminal record’ be added as protected attributes. By including these attributes, discrimination against people experiencing homelessness would be prohibited.
“The PILCH Homeless Persons’ Legal Clinic sees many clients who are refused accommodation, medical services, goods and services, purely because they are experiencing homelessness,’ said James Farrell, Manager/Principal Lawyer of the HPLC. ‘We’re not looking for special treatment for this extremely marginalised group, but they do deserve a fair go.”
“The government has the opportunity to make minor changes to anti-discrimination laws that could open up opportunities for the homeless to access a roof over their head, a warm meal, and vital medical services. There would be no cost to government, no special treatment for this group, and no harsh impost on business or community – it’s a win/win/win. So why won’t government commit to these meaningful measures?” asked Mr Farrell.
In 2007 the Victorian Government, working with the HPLC and others, developed ‘Equal Service’, a campaign to educate and improve services’ response to people experiencing homelessness. “While important, the Equal Service campaign showed that regulation is needed to ensure that people experiencing homelessness get a fair go,” said Mr Farrell. The Equal Service publications have since been removed from government websites, and the program was not evaluated.
“Both the Commonwealth and State governments have committed to halving homelessness by 2020, with a view to eradicating the scourge of homelessness,” said Mr Farrell. "While we welcome increased funding for public and social housing as part of the economic stimulus, governments do not seem to realise that homelessness is not rooflessness. This vulnerable group should be able to access services, including housing, without being discriminated against or treated with no respect or compassion. The government must include ‘homelessness’ as a protected attribute in the Equal Opportunity Act, to ensure a fair go for Victorians experiencing homelessness.”
Ends.
Contact
James Farrell
Manager/Principal Lawyer, HPLC
(03) 8636 4408 / 0411 206 835
James.farrell@pilch.org.au