Mr GUNNER - 2009-11-26
Can the minister please inform the House how the $150m Alice Springs Transformation Plan is dealing with social issues and reducing homelessness?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. I also acknowledge children from Gillen Primary School. I visited the school last week and heard firsthand about the great work they are doing with the community at Larapinta Valley town camp. I understand they also had an event at Larapinta last night to celebrate the successful partnership they have with Gillen Primary School.
In talking about partnerships, I will talk about the $150m transformation plan with which we have a partnership with the Australian government. The transformation plan was all about giving people in town camps good housing and a safe place to live and raise their kids.
Like the Chief Minister, and many members of this Assembly, I am relieved that, as a result of today’s court decision, we can get on with the job of improving conditions on the ground in our town camps. While the court action has been under way, we have been …
Mr Elferink interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin, order!
Mr HAMPTON: While the court action has been under way, we have been moving ahead with providing funds for innovative social support programs and reducing homelessness. In addition to the $100m to improve the town camp housing and infrastructure, there is also $50m …
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Can you ask the minister to table the document he is reading from?
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, is it a public document or is it notes?
Mr HAMPTON: No, it is notes, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no need to table it, thank you. Please continue, minister.
Mr HAMPTON: They just do not want to hear the good news, do they?
In addition to the $100m to improve the town camp housing situation, there is also $50m, which will improve social services and deliver programs on the ground to improve the lives of town camp people. Stakeholders are providing advice and developing proposals in a real grassroots effort.
Last week, with the federal minister, Jenny Macklin, I announced $1.6m for the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress to expand its targeted family support program. That is an early intervention program to help vulnerable families, aimed at preventing children from entering the child protection system. In addition, an extra $100 000 has been provided to Congress to employ another alcohol counsellor. I attended its AGM last week and the news was very warmly welcomed. Congress told me that this announcement will help it support another 40 families on town camps in Alice Springs.
There is a commitment for a Communities for Children program as well, which is $3m over three years; and almost $90 000 has been provided to the town council to continue with its successful dog control program with Tangentyere. One hundred new temporary accommodation beds have been announced to provide managed accommodation for people waiting for public housing. The Alice Springs Transformation Plan team is working hard to secure a site for short-term managed accommodation also.
I look forward to continuing to work with all stakeholders and town camp residents, with the aim of a better life and living standards for those children and families living on our town camps.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. I also acknowledge children from Gillen Primary School. I visited the school last week and heard firsthand about the great work they are doing with the community at Larapinta Valley town camp. I understand they also had an event at Larapinta last night to celebrate the successful partnership they have with Gillen Primary School.
In talking about partnerships, I will talk about the $150m transformation plan with which we have a partnership with the Australian government. The transformation plan was all about giving people in town camps good housing and a safe place to live and raise their kids.
Like the Chief Minister, and many members of this Assembly, I am relieved that, as a result of today’s court decision, we can get on with the job of improving conditions on the ground in our town camps. While the court action has been under way, we have been …
Mr Elferink interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin, order!
Mr HAMPTON: While the court action has been under way, we have been moving ahead with providing funds for innovative social support programs and reducing homelessness. In addition to the $100m to improve the town camp housing and infrastructure, there is also $50m …
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Can you ask the minister to table the document he is reading from?
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, is it a public document or is it notes?
Mr HAMPTON: No, it is notes, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no need to table it, thank you. Please continue, minister.
Mr HAMPTON: They just do not want to hear the good news, do they?
In addition to the $100m to improve the town camp housing situation, there is also $50m, which will improve social services and deliver programs on the ground to improve the lives of town camp people. Stakeholders are providing advice and developing proposals in a real grassroots effort.
Last week, with the federal minister, Jenny Macklin, I announced $1.6m for the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress to expand its targeted family support program. That is an early intervention program to help vulnerable families, aimed at preventing children from entering the child protection system. In addition, an extra $100 000 has been provided to Congress to employ another alcohol counsellor. I attended its AGM last week and the news was very warmly welcomed. Congress told me that this announcement will help it support another 40 families on town camps in Alice Springs.
There is a commitment for a Communities for Children program as well, which is $3m over three years; and almost $90 000 has been provided to the town council to continue with its successful dog control program with Tangentyere. One hundred new temporary accommodation beds have been announced to provide managed accommodation for people waiting for public housing. The Alice Springs Transformation Plan team is working hard to secure a site for short-term managed accommodation also.
I look forward to continuing to work with all stakeholders and town camp residents, with the aim of a better life and living standards for those children and families living on our town camps.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016