VCAT & Vic Ombudsman COVER UP the Dept of Housing's Maladministration &Corruption -NO Govt Integrity

[mariem888]

Dear All, 

My family and I are shocked by the level of Corruption & Misconduct within Victorian Government Departments (Dept of Housing , Victorian Ombudsman and VCAT). My family and I are very good Public Tenants (my Son has a disability Autism) but since our very valid complaints against Two Dept of Housing Problem Managers, we are experiencing discrimination, Maladministration and reduction in essential services by the Dept of Housing. The manner in which the Victorian Ombudsman and VCAT Mishandle our complaints is nothing short of Appalling Misconduct and Corruption. We are uncovering a deepset Lack of Integrity, Lack of Accountability and Lack of Transparency within each of these Government Departments, Laws need to be changed to Protect Public Housing Tenants but Also the General Public.

It is the job of Victorian Ombudsman to make the Dept of Housing staff accountable for their actions, but they have done nothing to resolve our complaints

• Dept of Housing are Discriminating against us and have stopped sending Automatic Rental Statements. Their policy states that Tenants are to receive statements every three months.
• Dept of Housing Refuse to send us an Account Reconciliation despite our numerous requests,which is also against their Tenancy Management Manual.
• Dept of Housing Breach the Residential Tenancies Act by Not maintaining our premises in good repair, No programmed works in Fifteen Years and also (leaving a 24 year old window lock faulty and unsafe (we had to replace it, and VCAT ordered Dept of Housing Reimburse us and 5 years later Dept have Not reimbursed us, leaving an old gas stove faulty (unsafe) and not servicing in 5 years, not repairing Storm damages in Years, ETC.
• Rude and Confrontational Dept of Housing Staff
• There are more complaints but they will exceed this page.

Until The Victorian Ombudsman Act 1973 is corrected, Vic Ombudsman staff will not bother to do their jobs properly. A report (full of errors) came back from a "Junior officer" at the Ombudsman office who stated she will not investigate our complaints. She got all the facts wrong. We escalated this to her manager who replied "Sorry but we have limited resources" The Law states that the Victorian Ombudsman decides whether to make enquiries or investigate complaints (two different things), when we ask for the details of the responses by the Dept of Housing to the Vic Ombudsman, the Vic Ombudsman refuse to provide this information as they state that the Victorian Ombudsman are not subject to Freedom of Information. So where is Transparency to allow us to correct Department of Housing Inaccuracies and Misleading Statements???

As for VCAT, from our experience they take the Cake for Misconduct and Corruption. In our last Tenants Application to VCAT against the Department of Housing, Senior Member completely Left Out of the Final Written Reasons all the repairs that the Dept of Housing were Requested to do by Consumer Affairs, also VCAT Senior Member convenientely left out most of our vital evidence, he also made numerous Errors for eg "Big hole in the roof finally filled after days instead of Three and a Half Years".

Our Family again have taken the Dept of Housing to VCAT but we are currently experiencing, Biased Members which we requested be Disqualified, also No fair hearing, No impartiality and gross Misconduct. VCAT have Prevented Three persons we Summoned into VCAT which is vital evidence to our case (One being the Junior Vic Ombudsman Officer who made nothing but errors in her report).   All the Best to you All.     mariem888

[imastawka]

Oh dear.   Did you not read the post by the mod?

15.277 now

[crusader-rabbit48]

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mariem888 wrote

Confucius says,  "It does not matter how slowly you go, so long as you do not stop."

mariem888

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Confucious also said : ' Man who fly upside down, have crack up '.

[lyndal1838]

Why have you singled out Stawka for this abuse?

She is a respected and valued poster on the forum and posts on many other boards than this one.

If I had to choose between you and Stawka I know who I would rather see posting here.

[***super_nova***]

i wonder how long it takes nowadays to get Bali holidays.  🙂

I would have never thought I would agree with Joe about the "age of entitlement", but now I am starting to see his point, somewhat.  Pity the people working in the Dept. of Housing.

[imastawka]

Thanks Lyndal,  but don't wear out your fingers on this one.

[cmcoins2000]

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@mariem888 wrote:

Message to imastawka

You need a Wake Up Call.

You have nothing better to do with your life than to post 15,280 negative, abusive, nonsensical Ramblings to the Community Forum.

It's About Time you did better more Productive things with your life, instead of directing Disgraceful comments to a Family of Carers with a Family member with a Disability who are Contributing to the Community.

Get your Violin and earn some respect.

mariem888

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I will back a lady everytime.

It certainly is not you.

[givemeaspell]

slightly off topic but if it is as most people are alluding to being that there is a shortage of cash for govenment housing, repairs etc, wondering if in everyone's area the dept of housing has been selling off houses once people vacate them?  I live in a bayside suburb in melbourne, houses here generally go close to the million dollar mark mostly over. There would be quite a few of these that are public housing, often with just one person living in a 3 bedroom home when the kids have left home.  Should these be sold off and the money back into the coffers for repairs, purchases of more affordable housing?  Or should the tennants have a lifetime rental agreement?

Recently once vacated in my area the houses are being sold (this has only happened in the past 3-4 years). 

As for the OP, I would say that sometimes you have to move on, make yourself happy, some battles are not worth fighting.

[chameleon54]

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@givemeaspell wrote:

slightly off topic but if it is as most people are alluding to being that there is a shortage of cash for govenment housing, repairs etc, wondering if in everyone's area the dept of housing has been selling off houses once people vacate them?  I live in a bayside suburb in melbourne, houses here generally go close to the million dollar mark mostly over. There would be quite a few of these that are public housing, often with just one person living in a 3 bedroom home when the kids have left home.  Should these be sold off and the money back into the coffers for repairs, purchases of more affordable housing?  Or should the tennants have a lifetime rental agreement?

Recently once vacated in my area the houses are being sold (this has only happened in the past 3-4 years). 

As for the OP, I would say that sometimes you have to move on, make yourself happy, some battles are not worth fighting.

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I think there is a shortage of cash for many important things in society, but plenty of money for what pollies see as vote winning extraviganses in marginal seats.

I have new public housing across from my back fence and a new set of public housing units going up down the road to replace some existing ones built in the 1980,s. The units that where there looked quite modern from the outside, but they are for people with serious disabilities, so maybe they didnt meet the latest standards ???? I dont know why they got the bulldozer, but it seemed a real waste.

The people who are housed in the units require a carer and certainly need societies support. The housing trusts two brand new houses out the back are a bit different. One houses single older men who have got a few issues. These guys are going to struggle a bit in the private rental market and are a bit vulnerable. They are suitable candidates for public housing. The other house has a "family" that just clearly now how to game the system for all its worth. I think this is part of the problem.

[givemeaspell]

I counted 6 public houses within approx 350 metre block today, all beachfront, each one would fetch i1.5 million if not more.

 It would cause an outrage to take people out of their homes that they have lived in for many years I assume, but perhaps if there is one person living in a 3 bedroom  they could be rehoused in the same area in a more up to date home (unit)/apartment)? give them the option some of them might take it up.  

[bright.ton42]

Public housing varies so much.   I'm bayside Melbourne too and down the road there is a block of beautiful old flats which are public housing.   One of the flats is completely renovated inside (maybe they all are I 've only been into one) with polished floors,  3 bedrooms, sparkling and only one woman lives in it.  Another couple I know live in newly built units in the next suburb which are sparkling as well and with a courtyard.  this couple is handicapped.  My take on the pub housing situation is that there is so much demand and it's very understaffed.    Also the wait list to get into a place  is literally years, so it's all a matter of relativity, even if the conditions are way less than ideal and frustrating most of those who are in it are pleased and make the best of it.    We need to remember it is the taxpayer who is paying for this accommodation.