Jordan van den Lamb, also known by his online alias Purple Pingers, is a South African-Australian lawyer, social media activist, and socialist political candidate known for his advocacy on housing issues and tenant rights.[2]
Jordan van den Lamb | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1995 [1] South Africa |
| Nationality | South African – Australian |
| Occupation(s) | Lawyer, social media activist, political candidate |
| Political party | Victorian Socialists |
| Website | https://pingers4parliament.com/ |
Early life and education
editVan den Lamb was born in South Africa and moved to Australia at a young age.[3] He created his social media handle in Year 10, choosing the name 'Purple Pingers' as a reference to ecstasy pills, although he later expressed regret about the choice.[4] He studied law at university.
Career and activism
editVan den Lamb first gained public attention through his TikTok account, "Purple Pingers," where he posted satirical videos critiquing real estate agents and exposing substandard rental conditions in Australia.[4] His content gained significant attention, leading to the establishment of the "Shit Rentals" database in 2023, a platform where tenants could anonymously share their experiences with poor housing conditions.[5] In 2024, Van den Lamb expanded his focus toward more direct housing activism. He compiled and publicised a list of vacant properties, encouraging their occupation as a protest against Australia’s housing crisis.[6] He also facilitated the organisation of occupations of vacant homes through social media.
The campaign sparked national debate.[7] While critics expressed concerns about the legality of the initiative and its potential impact on property rights, some supporters viewed it as an act of civil disobedience aimed at addressing perceived inequalities in housing access. Van den Lamb defended the campaign, explaining that it was intended to draw attention to the issue of vacant homes while advocating for changes in housing policies to address the crisis.[8]
Political candidacy
editIn August 2024, he announced his candidacy for the Senate in the 2025 Australian federal election for the state of Victoria, representing the Victorian Socialists.[6][9] Van den Lamb's decision to enter politics came after years of social media activism focused on housing issues and tenant rights. In his campaign, he has emphasised the need for affordable housing, stronger protections for tenants, and measures to address the growing vacancy rates of residential properties in Australia.[10][11]
References
edit- ^ Heitmann-Ryce-LeMercier, Liam (2024-11-09). "Stories from the frontline of Australia's rental crisis". The Saturday Paper. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
- ^ "Fierce renter advocate, purplepingers, eyes Senate tenancy". www.thenewdaily.com.au. 2024-08-26. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
- ^ Miller, Riley (2024-12-14). "Jordan van den Berg – The Australian Lawyer and Social Media Activist Who Is Shaping the Housing Debate in 2024". ProtectNFM. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
- ^ a b "Jordan van den Berg: The 'Robin Hood' TikToker taking on Australian landlords". 2024-04-20. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
- ^ Beazley, Jordyn (2023-09-21). "Dire rental properties getting you down? Sometimes it's better to laugh than cry". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
- ^ a b "Jordan went viral online exposing dodgy rentals. Now, he's entering politics". SBS News. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
- ^ Hodson, Lachlan (2024-04-09). "Landlords Are Shaking In Their Negatively Geared Boots Over Purple Pingers' Squatting Advice". PEDESTRIAN.TV. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
- ^ "Jordan is going after Australia's empty houses. His method is getting him death threats". SBS News. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
- ^ "Announcing the 'Pingers4Parliament' (Jordan van den Lamb) Senate campaign | Victorian Socialists". victoriansocialists.org.au. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
- ^ Withers, Rachel (2024-08-29). "'Purplepingers' wants a 'cheeky revolution'. But does he have a real plan for the Senate?". Crikey. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
- ^ "Meet the Viral Housing Activist Running for Australian Senate". jacobin.com. Retrieved 2025-01-02.