Victoria needs homes not prisons

Homes Not Prisons protest, October 2022. In the midst of a housing and cost-of-living crisis, there is an even greater need for housing and community supports not prisons.

Yesterday, the Allan Labor Government announced $727 million will be invested in expanding prisons and youth detention centres. This announcement comes a week out from the state budget — which is predicted to be grim for the community sector.

“This $727 million prison expansion is a costly and violent act of organised abandonment,” said Adriana Mackay, Flat Out’s Acting Executive Officer. Just weeks after its backflip on bail reforms, the government has doubled down on punishment over care.”

“During a housing crisis, with thousands of Victorians denied safe homes, the state is pouring money into expanding prisons instead of investing in what actually keeps communities safe — homes, healthcare, education and support,” said Ms Mackay.

The Premier has already confirmed that no new public housing will be built after the demolition of the North Melbourne and Flemington towers, and this week media sources have reported a secret cut of $2.4 billion from public schools, hidden in the last budget.

Restricting access to bail and pouring money into prisons have been shown to disproportionately harm women, trans and gender diverse people, and especially Aboriginal people — those already most targeted by the criminal legal system.

“This prison expansion is a political choice,” said Sheena Colquhoun, Chair of the Flat Out Board. “The government is building cages while communities struggle to meet basic needs in a cost-of-living crisis. Women, trans and gender diverse people, and Aboriginal people will bear the brunt.”

Ms Mackay agrees. “Prisons are not solutions; they are symptoms of systemic neglect,” she said. “Flat Out is calling on the Allan Government to immediately reverse this prison expansion and reinvest the $727 million into public housing, health care, education and community-led supports. Redirecting this funding to life-giving care would create safer, stronger communities. It’s time to choose care over punishment. We need homes not prisons.”