Media Releases by the former Minister the Hon Mal Brough MP

The Hon Mal Brough MP was the Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Indigenous Affairs between 28 January 2006 and 3 December 2007.

Archived Media Releases

Government tackles overcrowding in remote Indigenous communities

08/05/2007

The Australian Government will implement a significant seven year strategy of major reforms to help fix the Indigenous housing problem.

From 2008 - 09 the Community Housing and Infrastructure Programme (CHIP) previously managed by ATSIC will be abolished and replaced by a new expanded Australian Remote Indigenous Accommodation (ARIA) Programme.

Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Mal Brough, said that the Government was making a substantial down payment of $293.6 million in additional Indigenous housing funding in this year's Budget to kickstart the strategy over and above the current level of Indigenous housing funding of around $380 million per year.

"This is a substantial down payment to tackle overcrowding, particularly in remote communities. Subject to the success of this reform package and the cooperation of State and Territory governments and local community people the Australian Government will consider increasing expenditure further." Mr Brough said.

"This major investment shows that the Government recognises the need to unwind the failed polices of the past, particularly under ATSIC, that had an unacceptable state of housing in many remote Indigenous communities.

"This is a practical response to the recent independent review of CHIP commissioned by the government last year and demonstrates that at the national level we are prepared to take hard decisions and commit resources towards fixing the problem.

Australian Government funds will be used to construct new houses and repair and upgrade existing houses in remote locations across Australia where Indigenous housing need is the greatest.

ARIA will also provide assistance for Indigenous people to directly purchase new homes or to lease-purchase a home.

Funding for Indigenous public housing will continue under the Aboriginal Rental Housing Program (ARHP), which is part of the Commonwealth State Housing Agreement. ARHP is currently used by State and Territory Governments for Indigenous housing mainly in urban and regional locations.

"The ABS recently found that the Indigenous housing stock had only increased by only 2 per cent since 2001 and in the Northern Territory there are 271 fewer houses than there were 5 years ago. This is despite well over $1 billion spent since 2001" Mr Brough said.

"The Price Waterhouse Coopers review of CHIP found in some cases houses in remote communities were costing in excess of $600,000. And yet many of these houses are lasting only ten years.

"This ridiculous situation cannot continue unchecked. Taxpayers have a right to expect value for money in this area.

"We cannot continue to throw money at an old ATSIC Indigenous housing programme when it is not making significant headway."

Mr Brough said that under this reform programme, ARIA funds would be spent on new houses or upgrades only where ownership of the houses could be transferred to state/territory housing authorities made available for purchase by individuals.

"The current Indigenous Community Housing Organisations (ICHO) model has not worked to benefit Indigenous people. While some have been well managed, there are too many where nepotism and poor management have become entrenched. The ICHOs will have the opportunity to upgrade their properties, where they agree to private ownership opportunities or to transfer title to state housing authorities.

"Proper management of houses through state/territory housing authorities or private ownership, where Indigenous people choose to take up that option, combined with more efficient building techniques means that more houses can be built and housing stock should last much longer."

"More houses that last longer will help address overcrowding and the general housing needs of Indigenous people in remote communities," Mr Brough said.

Mr Brough said that the increased expenditure includes $30 million for hostel style accommodation in remote locations and $12 million for major infrastructure projects including sewerage, water supply and roads in the Torres Strait Islands, subject to matching funding from the Queensland Government.

"The Australian Government will also be asking state and territory governments to invest more of their own funds to help ensure that together we make a real effort to meet the housing needs of Indigenous people living in remote areas," Mr Brough said.


A Better Future for Indigenous Australians - Indigenous housing and infrastructure reforms

Why is this important?

Who will benefit?

What funding is the Government committing to the initiative?

What have we done in the past?

When will the initiative conclude?