"Monash’s Castan Centre for Human Rights Law advocacy prompts UN Human Rights intervention over Melbourne public housing towers", 7 September 2026

Advocacy by Monash University’s Castan Centre Human Rights Clinic, in partnership with Inner Melbourne Community Legal (IMCL) and on behalf of thousands of Melbourne’s public housing tower tenants, has successfully resulted in an official United Nations (UN) communication with the Australian Government regarding concerns about the human rights impacts of the public housing tower redevelopment plan.

A submission prepared by the Clinic’s staff and students to Mr Koldo Casla, the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, highlighted the potential human rights violation following the Victorian Government’s decision to demolish 44 public housing towers across Melbourne. The submission, including factual background, argued that the mass demolition and resulting relocation of approximately 10,000 residents constituted "forced evictions" and "mass displacement" in direct violation of the right to adequate housing and non-discrimination under international human rights law.

Following the clinic’s joint appeal, Mr Casla has now formally written to the Australian Government, detailing his serious concerns that the plan to demolish these public housing towers may violate international human rights law. The UN communication strongly urged the Australian and Victorian Governments to immediately suspend the executions of relocations and demolitions pending a proper human rights impact assessment.

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The Australian Government has now provided its formal response. While the government defended the redevelopment program, the response has acknowledged that the Victorian Ombudsman is currently investigating whether Homes Victoria's relocation practices are compatible with residents’ human rights. Furthermore, the High Court of Australia has granted special leave to appeal the matter on procedural fairness grounds, with a hearing provisionally listed for 7 October 2026.

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