States must release Indigenous housing figures
Shadow Minister for Indigenous Affairs Nigel Scullion has called on the states to immediately release progress to date on the first tranche of houses under the National Partnership Agreement on Remote Indigenous Housing.
Senator Scullion said Western Australia was the only state to have reported on its progress, delivering its target of 75 houses connected to infrastructure and ready for tenants in some of Western Australia’s most remote outposts including Kalumburu and Blackstone.
“It’s curious that the Liberal Western Australian State Government is able to deliver at least three times the number of houses it’s taken the Federal and Northern Territory governments to build in two and a half years,” Senator Scullion said.
“Many of the houses they delivered to Indigenous Western Australians were pre-fabricated in the Northern Territory, so I am at a loss as to why Indigenous Territorians are still missing out.
Other states have not released an update on progress, despite making an agreement in December 2009 to provide a detailed report against performance indicators and timelines by June 30, 2010.
In Senate Estimates on June 4 it was reported that seven houses had been completed in South Australia, none in Tasmania, 44 in Queensland and 13 in the Northern Territory.
“That’s a far cry from the 4,200 new houses due for completion in 2018, and it’s very difficult to track progress when states are not announcing targets, nor have implementation plans been finalised,” Senator Scullion said.
“The Western Australian Government has been forthright with its targets and managed to deliver its goal within the timeframe, while meeting its Indigenous employment target of 20% participation.
“The other states must release progress to date and announce targets for the new financial year, and the Federal Government must finalise construction plans for 2010-2011 so that work can continue without delay.”
