Remote Indigenous housing in Northern Territory fast tracked
The Australian and Northern Territory Governments will fast track the Northern Territory National Partnership Agreement on Remote Indigenous Housing to help tackle poor living conditions in Indigenous communities.
The Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Program (SIHIP), delivered through the National Partnership, is on track to meet the target of 150 new houses and 1000 rebuilds and refurbishments by the end of December this year.
We are now accelerating the National Partnership building program to deliver housing and housing related infrastructure ahead of schedule.
The construction consortia delivering the National Partnership are now well established, demonstrating a capacity to deliver housing in remote communities faster and on a larger scale.
Workers’ camps and workforces are based in remote communities, which is enabling new houses, rebuilds and refurbishments to be rolled out faster than anticipated.
To take advantage of the increased capacity of the construction consortia, the Australian Government will bring forward $316.7 million over the forward estimates from the National Partnership. Of these funds, $190 million will be used for housing related infrastructure, including sewerage and power.
The Northern Territory Government is supporting the fast tracking of the National Partnership by also bringing forward $140 million for housing related infrastructure.
The Governments’ SIHIP commitment of 750 new houses, 230 rebuilds and 2500 refurbishments will be delivered within the SIHIP budget.
By bringing forward this funding, the Governments will also build around 180 new houses and around 180 rebuilds under the National Partnership sooner than anticipated.
We want to roll out new houses, rebuilds and refurbishments in the Northern Territory more quickly so families can live in decent homes with a place to bath their children and a kitchen to cook a meal in.
Decent housing is essential for protecting children, improving health, education and employment and re-building positive community norms.
Under the National Partnership Agreement on Remote Indigenous Housing, the Australian Government is investing a record $5.5 billion over ten years to tackle the housing backlog across remote Australia. This includes $1.7 billion for remote housing in the Northern Territory.
The National Partnership is also delivering new training and job opportunities for Indigenous people in the Northern Territory.
The program is exceeding the Indigenous employment target, with more than 30 per cent of the workforce made up of Indigenous employees.
Under the National Partnership, we have now completed 88 new houses and another 126 are underway. Seven hundred and twenty six refurbishments and rebuilds are complete, with another 107 underway.