Local Law and Housing Update
Over the past few months, we have been deeply engaged in advocacy, sector leadership, and frontline work in response to significant developments in the City of Port Phillip.
Council Gives Green Light to Local Law Change Process
On 10 December 2025, Port Phillip City Council voted to proceed with the formal statutory process to amend its local laws relating to people experiencing homelessness and “encampments.” While the proposal had been released for public consultation earlier in the year – where a majority of participants opposed it – Council has chosen to continue down the path toward potential implementation.
Under the proposed amendment, Council would be empowered to declare temporary “no encampment” zones. Individuals sleeping in these areas could be asked to move on after being offered assistance, and if they do not comply, Council may impound their sleeping equipment.
Southside Justice has taken a firm leadership role in opposing this approach. In September 2025, we coordinated a joint letter, co‑signed by 19 local frontline organisations, urging Council to abandon the proposal. Our position remains clear: punitive and displacement‑based responses do not improve safety or amenity; they instead deepen harm, disproportionately affecting Aboriginal people and those already experiencing profound vulnerability.
We will continue to monitor the statutory review process closely and maintain strong advocacy for evidence‑based, rights‑focused alternatives.
New Funding for a Housing Justice Lawyer
We are pleased to share that the City of Port Phillip has provided funding towards a Housing Justice Lawyer at Southside Justice. This investment strengthens our capacity to support private renters facing insecurity or unsafe conditions.
The role will provide legal advice, representation, early intervention advocacy, and systems navigation, ensuring local residents have the support needed to remain safely housed. This is a critical step in addressing the structural factors that contribute to homelessness long before enforcement measures come into play.
Sector Leadership: Conference Presentation by Legal Director Jess Richter
At the end of November 2025, our Legal Director Jess Richter co-presented with Shifrah Blustein, Managing Lawyer at Inner Melbourne Community Legal on a panel titled: Coercive Anti‑Homeless Measures at Local Government Level: Building a cross-sector collaboration to advocate for housing first and human rights-based approaches.
The session examined the rise of coercive local government practices – from Victoria to Queensland – including the deployment of private security contractors and the tightening of anti‑camping bylaws. The discussion, grounded in lived‑experience testimony and frontline legal insight, examined how communities and service providers are forming coalitions to push back against these measures.
The panel highlighted the urgent need for Housing First strategies, rights‑based policy design, and alternative first‑responder models that prioritise care over enforcement. Jess’s contribution showcased Southside Justice’s leadership in statewide and national advocacy for more humane, effective, and evidence‑driven responses to homelessness.
Look out for our article in the upcoming edition of Parity magazine, published by the Council to Homeless Persons.