The Victorian government is offering $5 million in compensation to end an ongoing class action against it in response to placing nine public housing towers under strict lockdowns in 2020.
Over 3,000 residents across nine public housing towers in North Melbourne and Flemington in Australia were detained—without notice—in their apartments from July 4 to either July 9 or 18 in, 2020.
The claim, filed (pdf) in 2021 in the Victorian Supreme Court, claimed that residents were deprived of access to fresh air, exercise, and activities during the lockdown. It also alleges that residents were left without medication and critical supplies and were served “spoiled” food.
Lead plaintiff Idris Hassan, who lives in a North Melbourne public housing tower with his wife and three children, claimed his family were supplied with four “partially defrosted” sausage rolls after receiving nothing for three days….