Ms ANDERSON - 2010-02-18
The government’s A Working Future policy includes the decision to continue the policy of no new outstations and homelands. Can the minister tell the parliament exactly how many new outstations have received direct government funding, or a commitment of direct government funding, to establish new infrastructure since the government introduced A Working Future policy in May 2009?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Macdonnell for her question. Yesterday, the member for Macdonnell asked me about a particular place near Alice Springs. One of the good things I can report to the House on that particular issue was the classification of that land, member for Macdonnell, it was an excision of pastoral land, so there is an Indigenous Land Use Agreement under the Native Title Act regarding that place.
As I said yesterday, the Northern Territory government has $20m for almost 500 outstations. The concern from many Indigenous people across the Northern Territory is the next step, and how are people on those outstations going to continue.
Our government wants to encourage different ways for Indigenous people to look at having business on their land. We look at the native …
Ms ANDERSON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I need to call a point of order because my question is very direct to this parliament, and for the minister to answer the question. I know for a fact that $40 000 was given to this …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Macdonnell, what is the point of order?
Ms ANDERSON: The point of order is relevance, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: All right. Resume your seat. Minister, if you can answer the question as closely as possible.
Ms McCARTHY: In terms of encouraging Indigenous people across the Northern Territory to maintain existence on homelands and outstations, of course, we welcome that. However, we recognise, in terms of funding, we only have $20m for close to 500 outstations. We certainly are not about trying to increase the number of outstations when we know we only have $20m for almost 500. Our focus is on the 20 growth towns, and naturally, that has to begin with a strong partnership between the federal and Northern Territory governments, and we are doing that. What I want to see, and be happy to provide, is ongoing process of what we are doing regarding looking for funding in those areas.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Macdonnell for her question. Yesterday, the member for Macdonnell asked me about a particular place near Alice Springs. One of the good things I can report to the House on that particular issue was the classification of that land, member for Macdonnell, it was an excision of pastoral land, so there is an Indigenous Land Use Agreement under the Native Title Act regarding that place.
As I said yesterday, the Northern Territory government has $20m for almost 500 outstations. The concern from many Indigenous people across the Northern Territory is the next step, and how are people on those outstations going to continue.
Our government wants to encourage different ways for Indigenous people to look at having business on their land. We look at the native …
Ms ANDERSON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I need to call a point of order because my question is very direct to this parliament, and for the minister to answer the question. I know for a fact that $40 000 was given to this …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Macdonnell, what is the point of order?
Ms ANDERSON: The point of order is relevance, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: All right. Resume your seat. Minister, if you can answer the question as closely as possible.
Ms McCARTHY: In terms of encouraging Indigenous people across the Northern Territory to maintain existence on homelands and outstations, of course, we welcome that. However, we recognise, in terms of funding, we only have $20m for close to 500 outstations. We certainly are not about trying to increase the number of outstations when we know we only have $20m for almost 500. Our focus is on the 20 growth towns, and naturally, that has to begin with a strong partnership between the federal and Northern Territory governments, and we are doing that. What I want to see, and be happy to provide, is ongoing process of what we are doing regarding looking for funding in those areas.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016