New agreement to continue delivering housing in remote communities in South Australia

People in remote Indigenous communities in South Australia will benefit from more new and improved houses, after the Australian Government and the South Australian Government agreed to a new implementation plan for the $5.5 billion National Partnership Agreement on Remote Indigenous Housing (NPARIH).

The Federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, said the Australian Government’s unprecedented investment in housing was making a real difference to remote Indigenous communities in South Australia.

“The new implementation plan will see South Australia deliver a further 89 new houses and 26 refurbishments by 2018, meaning 241 new homes will be delivered and 206 existing homes will be refurbished over the ten years of the national partnership agreement,” Ms Macklin said.

“This next phase of work comes after South Australia exceeded its total original housing targets for the first five years of NPARIH, with 21 more homes built and 17 more refurbishments delivered.

“The National Partnership Agreement also includes measures to improve the longevity of houses, with a strong focus on property and tenancy management to bring remote Indigenous housing in line with public housing standards.”

The South Australian Minister for Social Housing, Tony Piccolo, said this year work would take place in the communities of Dunjiba, Indulkana, Kalka, Koonibba, Pukatja and Yalata.

Mr Piccolo said the housing program would continue to create jobs for Indigenous people in South Australia.

“More than 24 per cent of the workforce constructing new houses under NPARIH in South Australia is Indigenous, providing jobs and training opportunities for local communities,” Mr Piccolo said.

“The implementation plan also commits us to continue to work on Employment Related Accommodation, such as hostels and subsidised rental housing in locations which offer employment, training and education opportunities for remote residents.”

Improving housing is a key element of the Australian Government’s commitment to closing the gap in Indigenous disadvantage.

A safe home helps protect children, improves health, education and employment outcomes and is essential to rebuilding positive community norms.