Mike Byrne, Brisbane

The Socialist Alliance's South Brisbane branch staged an “eviction” of ALP state MP Anna Bligh from her electorate office on January 31, as a protest against homelessness, which has dramatically increased under Premier Peter Beattie's Labor government.

Lynda Hansen, the Socialist Allanite candidate for South Brisbane, told Green Left Weekly, “there has been a 44% increase in people seeking, but not receiving housing services, between 2001 to 2003, 36% of housing assistance organisations are not expecting to meet the increasing demands in the next year”.

Hansen accused the Labor government of human rights abuses against the homeless and the poor for failing to provide adequate funding for housing needs.

The following demands were raised at the “eviction” as part of the Socialist Alliance's policy:

* Establish a large-scale building program to make quality, energy efficient, affordable public housing.

* Community control of public housing through democratically elected housing boards comprised of tenants and housing workers.

* Expand funding to housing cooperatives, cap rent at 20% of income.

* Fully funded refuges and other secure emergency accommodation for women and children escaping domestic violence.

From Green Left Weekly, February 4, 2004.
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