Key Elements
The Australian Government has committed $7.0 million for the provision of better temporary staff accommodation for Government personnel currently residing in cyclone prone coastal and inland communities.This proposal will have a positive impact on remote regions of the Northern Territory. More permanent accommodation will improve recruitment and retention of Commonwealth staff in remote Indigenous communities. These in turn will result in more effective and efficient Commonwealth service delivery and implementation of the Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER).
The building of more permanent infrastructure in regional Australia will also provide paid employment and training opportunities for Indigenous residents of the remote communities as well as providing opportunities for local Northern Territory businesses to participate in the construction of the staff housing.
Background
Funding for 2008-09 will provide additional living space for Government personnel living within these communities. The accommodation currently used by Government personnel will then be used to accommodate other short-term government staff visiting the communities.The requirement for the provision of permanent housing for government staff will be assessed once the review of the NTER is conducted.