6 years ago
WHO IS TELLING THE TRUTH ON REMOTE HOUSING PARTNERSHIP FUNDING? THE PM OR HIS MINISTER?
SENATOR THE HON DOUG CAMERON
The Turnbull government must immediately clarify its position on the National Partnership on Remote Housing and guarantee funding for indigenous housing in remote communities.
When asked in Question Time today by Labor MP Cathy O’Toole about whether the Turnbull Government will continue to fund Indigenous housing, Minister Wyatt said:
“The negotiations that we will continue to have with state and territory governments are important …
We will not resile from our commitment to housing in remote communities. We will continue to plan, develop and implement programs that are needed to effect that.”
Responding to a question from Bob Katter on what Turnbull’s legacy for remote Indigenous housing will be, Turnbull said:
“Of course, the subject matter is the same as that asked by the member for Herbert, so I would refer the honourable member to the Minister’s answer, and just confirm that we are negotiating a new agreement for remote housing with the jurisdictions who remain part of the terminating program.”
The truth is the Turnbull government is not negotiating a new agreement on funding for remote Indigenous housing support.
At a meeting in Canberra yesterday, the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Senator Scullion told the Queensland Minister for Housing, Mick De Brenni that the government is not negotiating a new agreement with the states.
The Queensland government was told there will be no new agreement and the only money the Turnbull government will make available will be a small payment to facilitate the Commonwealth transitioning out of further funding.
The only money Minister Scullion is interested in providing is severance pay to the states.
Is the Turnbull government being duplicitous or is this just another example of the chaos gripping the government?
Either way, it is time for the Turnbull government to come clean on their plans for remote Indigenous housing.