Review recommends major reform of Indigenous housing

Indigenous Affairs Minister, Mal Brough, today released the report of the independent review of the Community Housing and Infrastructure Programme (CHIP) Living in a Sunburnt Country which recommends major reforms in the funding and delivery of Indigenous housing.

"CHIP, previously managed by ATSIC, has clearly failed to deliver and needs urgent reform," Mr Brough said.

"While billions of dollars have been invested in Indigenous housing, there is too little to show for it.

"We’ve been chasing our tail and not seeing any significant progress in overcoming the Indigenous housing problem in remote Australia particularly.

"The review of CHIP, conducted last year by PricewaterhouseCoopers, involved consultations with key players in the Indigenous housing sector. It found current Indigenous housing arrangements were flawed and unsustainable. It provides a sober analysis of the situation and a radical way forward.

"The review suggests ways of converting an ATSIC basket case into new opportunities for decent housing, home ownership and employment for locals in housing construction and maintenance.

"The review recommends focusing a new replacement to CHIP on remote and very remote Indigenous communities where the housing need is greatest and making sure that people living in areas with mainstream alternatives have fair access to those alternatives.

"The Report, along with other views, will be considered by the Government in exploring future directions in Indigenous housing."

The Minister’s department is organising information sessions on the review in selected locations.

A feedback form is attached to the online copy of the report which is available on the FaCSIA website.