Battle for housing

Issue 

Bill Bartlett, Hobart

Members of the Acosamrel Salvadoran housing cooperative have been galvanised into action in the face of a threat to wind up the cooperative and hand its assets over to another organisation. The cooperative was formed in 1991 to house members of the Salvadoran refugee community.

Tasmania's corporate affairs watchdog had failed to ensure that a proper register of cooperative members was kept, meaning that the cooperative's management, which supported the proposal, was able to draw up a new list. The lawyer who assisted management was then appointed returning officer. The vote was passed on January 30.

Disenfranchised members have responded by electing interim management and finance committees, and are preparing to take control of their co-operative.

Both Housing Tasmania and Corporate Affairs appear to be strongly pushing for the dismemberment of Acosamrel.

Hobart Labor MHR Duncan Kerr has been following the case closely, offering valued assistance to members of the cooperative.

Cooperative members are urging people to make contact with both Housing Tasmania (99 Bathurst St, Hobart) and Corporate Affairs (15 Murray St, Hobart), to ask why they are supporting this appalling decision to wind up ACOSAMREL cooperative.

Letters of support for the tenants and members of Acosamrel can be sent care of the Resistance Centre (225 Murray St, Hobart) with copies to Labor MHR Duncan Kerr (188 Collins St, Hobart), who has been assisting cooperative members.

[Bill Bartlett is a member of the Tasmanian Co-operative Housing Development Society]

From Green Left Weekly, March 17, 2004.
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