Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
AAP
AAP
National
Tara Cosoleto

Housing tower class action halted for document fight

A fight for secret documents has delayed a class action over demolition of public housing towers. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)

Residents in public housing towers slated for demolition will not learn if they are successful in their fight against the Victorian government until next year.

The class action claims Homes Victoria did not properly consider the residents' human rights before deciding to demolish the towers in Carlton, Flemington and North Melbourne.

The decision was announced by former premier Daniel Andrews as part of the Labor government's policy in September 2023.

The trial began in the Victorian Supreme Court on Monday, where Homes Victoria chief executive Simon Newport conceded Mr Andrews made the announcement before residents were notified. 

He told the court the government body did carry out community consultation afterwards, including an open forum. 

The trial was due to continue on Tuesday but the case was instead adjourned so the parties could fight over the production of secret documents.

Lawyers for Homes Victoria told the court some of the requested material falls under cabinet privilege and does not need to be released. 

Justice Melinda Richards said another judge would need to decide on the document question, with a hearing date yet to be fixed. 

She was originally planning to hand down her decision in the class action trial within the next two months but the legal argument will delay her ruling. 

"I had expected to give the parties a decision by the end of the year," she said on Tuesday.

"That's now no longer going to be possible."

The trial has been adjourned to a date to be fixed.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.