Ms WALKER - 2009-11-26
Can the you inform the House about how today’s Federal Court decision impacts on the government’s plans to improve the lives of people living in Alice Springs town camps?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. This has been a very significant decision by the Federal Court this morning about the Alice Springs town camps. Our lawyers are still digesting the full text of the decision. It is a very lengthy decision. Our initial advice is that the decision clears the way for the $100m investment in town camp housing and infrastructure to proceed. This is a decision which, pending further legal advice, we believe allows us, at last, to proceed with the investment in town camp housing and infrastructure.
I pay tribute to the Commonwealth government, Jenny Macklin in particular, for the money the Commonwealth has put on the table to transform the town camps. It is an enormous commitment of $100m. We will be working hand in glove with the Commonwealth government to build those houses. Once we know more detail, and the appeals process is clarified, we can get on with the job of building 85 new houses and improving those conditions in the town camps, very much to the benefit, not only of the residents of those town camps, but to the benefit of the entire community in Alice Springs.
In partnership with the Australian government, we are determined the full program of major work for all camps will be delivered as quickly as possible. We will be able to move ahead with the camp cleanups first, and the fix and make safe program. In the coming weeks I anticipate work will start on an initial cleanup of town camps, a fix and make safe early works program, and an on the ground assessment of civil works. Extensive surveying and planning for the major civil works program will begin immediately so that essential works on upgrading roads, power, water and sewerage can proceed in a timely and coordinated way.
Officers from the federal and Northern Territory governments will be engaging with town camp residents to ensure people are aware of the work program and to minimise disruption. Depending on the legal detail, I will be pressing, together with my colleague, the Minister for Central Australia, who has a hands-on role as Minister for Central Australia, to get work happening on the ground in the camps before Christmas.
At last, I believe we are going to see an opportunity to move forward, to do the right thing, both the Australian government and the Northern Territory government, to the benefit of those residents in the town camps, and to the benefit of the broader community of Alice Springs. I welcome the Federal Court decision today.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. This has been a very significant decision by the Federal Court this morning about the Alice Springs town camps. Our lawyers are still digesting the full text of the decision. It is a very lengthy decision. Our initial advice is that the decision clears the way for the $100m investment in town camp housing and infrastructure to proceed. This is a decision which, pending further legal advice, we believe allows us, at last, to proceed with the investment in town camp housing and infrastructure.
I pay tribute to the Commonwealth government, Jenny Macklin in particular, for the money the Commonwealth has put on the table to transform the town camps. It is an enormous commitment of $100m. We will be working hand in glove with the Commonwealth government to build those houses. Once we know more detail, and the appeals process is clarified, we can get on with the job of building 85 new houses and improving those conditions in the town camps, very much to the benefit, not only of the residents of those town camps, but to the benefit of the entire community in Alice Springs.
In partnership with the Australian government, we are determined the full program of major work for all camps will be delivered as quickly as possible. We will be able to move ahead with the camp cleanups first, and the fix and make safe program. In the coming weeks I anticipate work will start on an initial cleanup of town camps, a fix and make safe early works program, and an on the ground assessment of civil works. Extensive surveying and planning for the major civil works program will begin immediately so that essential works on upgrading roads, power, water and sewerage can proceed in a timely and coordinated way.
Officers from the federal and Northern Territory governments will be engaging with town camp residents to ensure people are aware of the work program and to minimise disruption. Depending on the legal detail, I will be pressing, together with my colleague, the Minister for Central Australia, who has a hands-on role as Minister for Central Australia, to get work happening on the ground in the camps before Christmas.
At last, I believe we are going to see an opportunity to move forward, to do the right thing, both the Australian government and the Northern Territory government, to the benefit of those residents in the town camps, and to the benefit of the broader community of Alice Springs. I welcome the Federal Court decision today.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016