Ms SCRYMGOUR - 2003-02-25
Can the minister advise the House on the progress in settling a new funding agreement with the Commonwealth in regard to Aboriginal housing.
ANSWER
I thank the member for Arafura for her question, Madam Speaker. This is a truly vital issue for Territorians. All members are aware of the pressing need to address the poor health and education outcomes, and the need to develop employment opportunities, in our rural and remote communities. These issues cannot be considered in isolation from the need to simultaneously address the chronic housing shortage in our rural communities.
It is widely recognised, and it is an indisputable fact, that the Territory has the greatest needs in regard to the Commonwealth/state agreement on Aboriginal housing programs. In 2001, the Commonwealth Grants Commission reported to the Commonwealth government on indigenous funding. That report found:
The indicators we measured consistently point to the highest needs per person, or per household, being in the
remote ATSIC regions.
The Commonwealth responded to this assessment of the Commonwealth Grants Commission in June last year. The Commonwealth’s response stated that the Commonwealth would react by:
… better targeting indigenous specific programs to areas of greatest need, including remote locations.
In 2001, the ABS reported that 52% of the discrete Aboriginal communities in Australia are in the Northern Territory. These communities include 36% of the nation’s temporary dwellings; 81% of the nation’s communities that do not have a sewerage system connected to all permanent dwellings; 67% of the nation’s communities that do not have water connected to all dwellings; and 75% of the nation’s communities where electricity is not connected to all permanent dwellings. These numbers speak for themselves.
Despite these acknowledged facts, and despite the Commonwealth government’s stated commitment to better target, these programs to areas of greatest need, I regret that I have to advise Territorians that the Commonwealth’s current proposal under the Aboriginal Rental Housing Program is based on 1987 data that is clearly out of date. The Commonwealth funding for the program has not increased since the financial year 1990-91, over 13 years ago. The Commonwealth funding contribution to this program has not even increased with inflation. So, the real value of the Commonwealth funding has decreased substantially. The Commonwealth’s latest funding offer flies in the face of the Commonwealth’s stated commitment to addressing areas of greatest need. Moreover, it is based on data that is 16 years out of date.
My department has estimated that the Commonwealth funding offer is at least $15m per year less than what the Territory is entitled to under a fair allocation based on the real needs of Territorians. This is a very important issue for all Territorians. This program has vital linkages to health, education and employment for our whole community. I have written recently to the federal minister expressing my concern at this poor response from the Commonwealth. There is an undeniable funding need, and I have suggested that the Commonwealth minister and I meet at an early opportunity to address this serious anomaly.
I trust the government has the support of all members in this parliament, and our federal representatives in the Commonwealth parliament, in securing more realistic Commonwealth funding under this vital program.
ANSWER
I thank the member for Arafura for her question, Madam Speaker. This is a truly vital issue for Territorians. All members are aware of the pressing need to address the poor health and education outcomes, and the need to develop employment opportunities, in our rural and remote communities. These issues cannot be considered in isolation from the need to simultaneously address the chronic housing shortage in our rural communities.
It is widely recognised, and it is an indisputable fact, that the Territory has the greatest needs in regard to the Commonwealth/state agreement on Aboriginal housing programs. In 2001, the Commonwealth Grants Commission reported to the Commonwealth government on indigenous funding. That report found:
The indicators we measured consistently point to the highest needs per person, or per household, being in the
remote ATSIC regions.
The Commonwealth responded to this assessment of the Commonwealth Grants Commission in June last year. The Commonwealth’s response stated that the Commonwealth would react by:
… better targeting indigenous specific programs to areas of greatest need, including remote locations.
In 2001, the ABS reported that 52% of the discrete Aboriginal communities in Australia are in the Northern Territory. These communities include 36% of the nation’s temporary dwellings; 81% of the nation’s communities that do not have a sewerage system connected to all permanent dwellings; 67% of the nation’s communities that do not have water connected to all dwellings; and 75% of the nation’s communities where electricity is not connected to all permanent dwellings. These numbers speak for themselves.
Despite these acknowledged facts, and despite the Commonwealth government’s stated commitment to better target, these programs to areas of greatest need, I regret that I have to advise Territorians that the Commonwealth’s current proposal under the Aboriginal Rental Housing Program is based on 1987 data that is clearly out of date. The Commonwealth funding for the program has not increased since the financial year 1990-91, over 13 years ago. The Commonwealth funding contribution to this program has not even increased with inflation. So, the real value of the Commonwealth funding has decreased substantially. The Commonwealth’s latest funding offer flies in the face of the Commonwealth’s stated commitment to addressing areas of greatest need. Moreover, it is based on data that is 16 years out of date.
My department has estimated that the Commonwealth funding offer is at least $15m per year less than what the Territory is entitled to under a fair allocation based on the real needs of Territorians. This is a very important issue for all Territorians. This program has vital linkages to health, education and employment for our whole community. I have written recently to the federal minister expressing my concern at this poor response from the Commonwealth. There is an undeniable funding need, and I have suggested that the Commonwealth minister and I meet at an early opportunity to address this serious anomaly.
I trust the government has the support of all members in this parliament, and our federal representatives in the Commonwealth parliament, in securing more realistic Commonwealth funding under this vital program.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016