Remote Indigenous Housing Targets exceeded

More Indigenous people will benefit from new and refurbished houses, after the Australian Government exceeded its targets for improving Indigenous housing in remote communities.

In the 2010-2011 financial year, 490 new houses and 2,288 refurbishments were completed in remote Indigenous communities across Australia, exceeding the ambitious target of 463 new houses and 2,012 refurbishments.

This work has been delivered in partnership with State and the Northern Territory Governments under the $5.5 billion National Partnership Agreement on Remote Indigenous Housing. All jurisdictions at least met their new housing targets and have exceeded their refurbishment targets.

The substantial level of activity in housing has been essential in starting to address the level of housing need in remote Indigenous communities.

Decent housing is essential for protecting children, improving health, education and employment and for re-building positive community norms.

The National Partnership Agreement on Remote Indigenous Housing was renegotiated in late 2009 to provide greater incentives for performance, resulting in better than expected delivery.

Under the revised arrangement up to 25 per cent of a jurisdiction’s capital works funding allocation can be reallocated if agreed targets are not met.

The renegotiation has resulted in a new sense of drive and urgency, with New South Wales, Western Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory all exceeding their new housing targets

Overall since the commencement of the National Partnership on 1 January 2009 more than 800 new houses have been completed and 3,100 houses have been rebuilt and refurbished nationally.

This upward trend in delivery is set to continue, with jurisdictions commencing work ahead of schedule for 2011-12.

In addition to housing in remote areas, 28 houses have been acquired in regional centres to support Indigenous people from remote communities to access employment and training opportunities.

Getting housing right is critical to closing the gap on Indigenous disadvantage.