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

[lloydslights]

Perhaps the house you're in, is going to be sold off in the near future. (Just like in the Rocks area, Sydney)   Maybe the Works you propose, aren't justified for the short term.

Could be an inconvenience for you and your family.  However. with the money made from a sale, more Housing will be available for more people in other areas. 

Find out if Julian Burnside (mentioned in one of the Press Releases you offered) can help with your matter, he's often in the headlines for helping out disadvantaged people with housing problems.

Try your local Newspapers too, for media coverage.  It's often from local newspapers that major TV networks get their Special Reports material.

DEB

[chameleon54]

---

@mariem888 wrote:

People can't help circumstances for instance being elderly and having a Son with a Disability Autism who also has a serious Health condition. You don't know our personal circumstances, your suggestion is offensive, inappropriate and inconsiderate.

mariem888

---

Autism is definitely a very difficult condition to manage and can be exhausting and socially isolating for carers.

How do i know ??? Our son has had major mental health problems for several years. We where informed " off the record " by his psychiatrist a few weeks ago that he has autism as well as other conditions. My wife is also blind and uses a guide dog to get around.

Despite all of this I still try to work to provide for our family and own a modest house which I try to keep neat and tidy. My blind wife assists the community through extensive voluntary work including playing music in a band for dances attended by people with intellectual disabilities. She also acts as an advocate for disability issues to our local city council. Our son ( with autism ) manages to hold down a basic 25 hour a week job, paying around $10 per hour. ( much to the surprise of all of his specialists ) He.is 16 and has left school and is not on any form of social security. He has a sense of achievement and strong self esteem at paying his own way in life.

Yes its hard work and yes our son has ongoing support from a range of specialists paid for by the taxpayer. My wife uses the services of guide dogs and Royal society for the blind, paid for by the community . Through all of this our family tries to be as self reliant as we can and we all do voluntary work in the community to help repay society for the services provided too us.

[lyndal1838]

Wow, you are complaining about 15 year old carpets and stove.  Don't forget they were provided for you by the taxpayers...you should be grateful for what you have, not creating waves.

I bought this house 46 years ago.....it still has the original stove which was not new when I moved in.  It has been looked after and still works well.

My bathroom was renovated 40 years ago and again has been looked after and is still in good order.

My carpets are also 40 years old and for the most part still look good although I would love to put new carpet in my bedroom.  Being a light colour is is showing it's age.

I bought up 2 children here (admittedly not disabled) so there was normal wear and tear on the house.

My problem now is whether I want to remain here in a very large house and renovate again.  Being elderly, I am more inclined to move somewhere smaller.

You are hardly in a position to be rude to the posters here.....none of them can do anything to help you.

You are posting on a public forum where everyone has the right to an opinion.   If you don't like those opinions you don't have to continue to post here.

If you do decide to approach the media you will need to be thicker skinned than you are here....they will ask the hard questions and will be even more judgemental than the posters here.

[tasfleur]

For you Chameleon xxxx

[***super_nova***]

I know some people in dire circumstances who have to pay something like 75% of their income on rent.  They need to be close to hospitals and shops, and as they do no longer drive, moving somewhere cheaper is not an option.  They have no chance getting housing commission accommodation as the waiting list is decades.  I think it would be easier  and much more fair to give more generous rental allowance to all people on benefits and very low income, rather than the government trying to administer the properties, and give selected few accommodation @ only 25% (or what ever%) of their income.  .

[esayaf]

Reality is that those in government are dedicated to helping themselves and not the general population. Time to stop voting with graphite and start voting with lead

[mariem888]

Message for Chameleon 54

Sorry to hear about your personal situation.

At the end of the Day we are all Australian's and we are renowned around the World for

giving people a Fair Go to Voice what is happening in their lives, and ensure those

circumstances don't happen to others.

 What we are looking for is simply Justice, we all deserve to be treated with respect, Laws are

in place for a reason to protect the Community these Government Agencies we mentioned are

Failing to do so, and placing Families at a disadvantage.

For Sixteen Years I worked very hard at times juggling two jobs at once, and paid my Taxes up

until my children were born.

Some people simply try to make others feel bad so they can feel better about themselves.

mariem888

[mariem888]

Message for lyndal1838

**News Flash**This is the 21st Century... most people are aware that the quality of most products

are not manufactured like they used to be. 

Wow, so what you are suggesting is that Public Housing Tenants Never have their carpet

changed in 46 Years years, Never change their Gas stove in 46 Years and No painting in 46 Years,

No Bathroom or Kitchen upgrade in 46 Years, so basically Nothing replaced or repaired in

46 Years.

Where is the common sense?,

Your standards are hardly adequate for people like my Son who has a Disability Autism and serious Health condition.

Lets make amendments to the RTA Laws and the Building Housing Standards Codes to suit Your standards. I think

Not.

You are hardly in a position to be judgmental, and you contradict yourself when stating everyone has a right to an opinion.

Don't forget the Taxes I paid for Sixteen Years when I worked hard, at times juggling two jobs before I had my Two

children.

mariem888

[mariem888]

**Message For Super_Nova And imastawka**

[imastawka]

 Still don't know why you posted here,  or what you think it will accomplish

No-one really cares anymore.   They gave you advice already