Labor MP ‘deeply hurt’ by Liberal member’s ‘grossly offensive’ speech

A Victorian MP who grew up in public housing says he was “deeply hurt” by another MP’s “grossly offensive” speech in the Victorian upper house yesterday.

In the address, Liberal MP Wendy Lovell claimed public housing should not be built “in the best street in Brighton” because “the children cannot mix with others”.

Labor MP Mark Gepp, who spent the first 20 years of his life living in social housing, said he was “deeply hurt” by Ms Lovell’s comments.

“I wasn’t expecting anyone to run a line that was effectively about segregation,” he told Neil Mitchell.

“To suggest that people in social housing can’t live in these more affluent suburbs is grossly offensive.”

Mr Gepp said “every person on the chamber cringed when they heard what was being said” yesterday.

Press PLAY below to hear park of Ms Lovell’s controversial speech and Mr Gepp’s reaction to it

In this day & age, it is absolutely disgraceful for anyone to argue for segregation based on peoples social & economic position in society.

It is unacceptable & I am furious.

Watch as I condemn the former housing minister for her unacceptable comments> https://t.co/IAN1jrZSLX pic.twitter.com/JoqcwXNNL0

— Mark Gepp MP (@mark_gepp) March 24, 2022

Image: Mark Gepp/Twitter