Labor extends housing support for NT homelands
An Albanese Labor Government will negotiate a new remote housing agreement with the Northern Territory Government that includes culturally significant homelands when the current agreement expires in mid-2023.
Labor will also commit $100 million to start work immediately on urgent housing and essential infrastructure in Northern Territory homelands, ahead of the new agreement.
These commitments supplement Labor’s existing pledge to provide $200 million from the Housing Australia Future Fund for the repair, maintenance and improvement of remote housing across Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia and the Northern Territory.
The Northern Territory is the only jurisdiction where the Morrison Government has a current agreement to fund remote housing, due to expire in mid-2023.
Even in the Northern Territory, the Liberals have systematically withdrawn housing support for homelands, which are culturally important places and home to around10,000 Aboriginal Territorians.
Access to safe and adequate housing is critical to Closing the Gap in other areas – such as health, education and employment.
As the party that first established the Closing the Gap framework in 2007, Labor is committed making the investments that are needed to deliver change.
Quotes attributable to Linda Burney, Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians:
“Spending on health, education and employment will offer a much bigger return if we also improve access to safe and adequate housing in remote Australia.
“Labor understands the need to work with First Nations peoples to address overcrowding and run-down housing if we are to be successful in closing the gap.
“That’s why Labor is undoing years of Liberal neglect to extend federal funding for housing in Northern Territory homelands and investing in maintenance and upgrades to remote housing across Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory.”
Quotes attributable to Malarndirri McCarthy, Senator for the Northern Territory:
“Morrison has been in government for almost a decade and done little to improve the livelihoods of First Nations people and their aspirations to live on homelands and outstations across the Territory.
“If Labor wins government, these commitments will go a long way in giving hope to those who want to live back on country.”
Quotes attributable to Marion Scrymgour, Candidate for Lingiari:
“This is an important commitment from Labor. Homelands are generally safer and provide better health outcomes for families. They allow traditional owners to properly care for and maintain their cultural obligations to country.”