Richard believes the government has lied to the tenants of public housing about when, where and how they will be moved. On several occasions Housing Minister Brad Hazzard has said that tenants can be relocated to Waterloo within two years, a promise still being expressed in the latest memo sent to tenants (dated March 8, 2016, from Mandy Young, District Director at FACS). Most tenants don’t believe that it is logistically possible to carry out this promise. Furthermore, it is unlikely that any developer for whom profit is the bottom line would invest billions of dollars in building private properties alongside public housing properties.
Richard, like other interviewees, says that uncertainty is the most stressful consequence of the minister’s announcement. He feels that he is just waiting for someone to knock on his door and say that he has six months to move. If he refuses the alternate accommodation offered there is no possibility of further negotiation. Minister Hazzard specifically stated several times at the NCIE meeting that tenants could move wherever they wanted. Richard has this to say to the Minister: What if I wish to move to a four-bedroom penthouse in Point Piper with harbour views? He joked that if he were moved to a penthouse it would save the government the cost of moving him back into Waterloo.
Richard would miss the Waterloo community very much and consequently has become involved in a team community action. The local Neighbourhood Advisory Board (NAB) has voiced disappointment over the proposed redevelopment from the parameters within which they have to operate. They have been doing a good job. However, there is also a need for direct action from the tenants and Richard has taken action across several fronts.
First, he has a petition ready to be launched in Parliament to stop the sale of the land in Waterloo. The petition is NOT to stop any upgrades or improvements in the area only to stop the sale of public land. The government can upgrade the area without selling the land.
Secondly, Richard doesn’t believe that a railway station is necessary for Waterloo. He has endeavoured to set up small groups to assist him in fighting the Baird government and Richard would like to remind the premier he has a casual job at the moment! Further, Premier Baird’s first and foremost responsibility is to adhere to the needs of the constituents of NSW and not the needs of developers.
Thirdly, Richard is organising splinter committees representing different ethnic origins, for instance, Chinese, Russian and Spanish people. He would like to have a representative from each of those committees join him in the fight to make the government more responsive to the needs of the Waterloo residents.
Richard has a strong belief that people power is the strongest tool and most effective weapon in any fight against the government. It’s important that everyone, including the elderly and vulnerable, feel they have some input into their own destiny. The pen is mightier than the sword!
Richard feels that change has already begun. Two months ago all the tenants had was a letter from, and a meeting with, an aggressive minister, and today they have a petition with over 500 signatures and 17 volunteers assisting with the petition. The local, state and national media have become involved. Local businesses have also come on board, as have private residents within and outside the Waterloo area. “We welcome anybody else who is interested,” he says.
Richard feels that he now knows what it felt like for Aboriginal people when they were pushed out of their home – Australia. Premier Baird, he argues, is taking away culture and community. “He can give us a new house somewhere, but it is NOT our home.”
