Mr WOOD - 2011-05-03
On page 110 of the budget papers, you state there is $216.4m in Commonwealth funding under the National Partnership Agreement on Remote Indigenous Housing. That funding is for new houses. What is going to happen to those people who do not live in growth towns? Is there any money for new houses in these non-growth town communities? What are you going to tell the people who live in places like Nauiyu, Peppimenarti, Milikapiti, Pirlangimpi and Palumpa? What is their future in relation to this budget and in relation to new housing?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, was the member for Nelson referring to page 112?
Mr Wood: Page 110.
Dr BURNS: There is an explanation on page 112 for the key variations around the budget. I am not sure I caught all your question, but my response would be there is significant spending still going on through SIHIP, and you have witnessed that yourself. I believe it is a substantial investment. Yes, we could always do more. I believe we are doing what we can within our resources in collaboration with the Commonwealth. We will work with the Commonwealth through the next phase of the National Partnership Agreement. We will be delivering on our 750 new houses across the bush ...
Mr WOOD: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The main part of the question was what is the future in relation to new houses for those communities that are not growth towns?
Dr BURNS: I believe I have answered it, Madam Speaker. There is a schedule of works through SIHIP with ongoing works in various communities. I suppose it comes down to negotiation with the Commonwealth because the arrears in Indigenous housing - and I have said this a number of times on the public record - is much more than the budgetary capacity of the Northern Territory. We need to do this in partnership with the Commonwealth.
It is true that within the budget there is ongoing spending of the $50m for 150 new public housing dwellings, but they are in our major urban centres. It is a balance. There is great housing demand and also housing waiting lists, as you are aware, within our major centres. My focus as minister is to replenish that stock. I will continue that conversation within our Budget Cabinet and with my Cabinet colleagues. That is the way we have to go regarding the bush and, as I said, it has to be in negotiation with the Commonwealth.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, was the member for Nelson referring to page 112?
Mr Wood: Page 110.
Dr BURNS: There is an explanation on page 112 for the key variations around the budget. I am not sure I caught all your question, but my response would be there is significant spending still going on through SIHIP, and you have witnessed that yourself. I believe it is a substantial investment. Yes, we could always do more. I believe we are doing what we can within our resources in collaboration with the Commonwealth. We will work with the Commonwealth through the next phase of the National Partnership Agreement. We will be delivering on our 750 new houses across the bush ...
Mr WOOD: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The main part of the question was what is the future in relation to new houses for those communities that are not growth towns?
Dr BURNS: I believe I have answered it, Madam Speaker. There is a schedule of works through SIHIP with ongoing works in various communities. I suppose it comes down to negotiation with the Commonwealth because the arrears in Indigenous housing - and I have said this a number of times on the public record - is much more than the budgetary capacity of the Northern Territory. We need to do this in partnership with the Commonwealth.
It is true that within the budget there is ongoing spending of the $50m for 150 new public housing dwellings, but they are in our major urban centres. It is a balance. There is great housing demand and also housing waiting lists, as you are aware, within our major centres. My focus as minister is to replenish that stock. I will continue that conversation within our Budget Cabinet and with my Cabinet colleagues. That is the way we have to go regarding the bush and, as I said, it has to be in negotiation with the Commonwealth.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016