4 years ago
THE GOVERNMENT MUST DELIVER ON THEIR PROMISE TO INDIGENOUS HOUSING
LINDA BURNEY MP
Indigenous community leaders today met with politicians in Canberra to again call on the Liberal National Government to honour their election promise for $105 million for crucial remote and regional housing funding in Far North Queensland.
On 8 May 2019, the Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch and former Minister for Indigenous Affairs Nigel Scullion promised Indigenous communities in Queensland $105 million to be provided “directly to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Councils to fund remote Indigenous housing”. It wasn’t the funding they had hoped for, after the federal Government walked away from the National Partnership Agreement on Remote Indigenous Housing, but it was welcomed.
More than six months after the election no funding has been delivered and there is no indication that any progress has been made. No construction has begun and no jobs have been created while waitlists continue to grow longer.
Cairns-based Senator, Nita Green, met with the leaders in Canberra who spoke of the very real health issues that arise from overcrowding.
“It is deplorable that Warren Entsch would make promises to communities desperate for housing and then fail to do anything for six months. Adequate housing is a crucial step to support the health and economic outcomes of First Nation communities”, said Senator Green.
Labor stands with the local Indigenous community leaders and calls on the Government to bring forward this funding now.
Housing is a basic human right and it is unacceptable that these communities are still waiting.
On 8 May 2019, the Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch and former Minister for Indigenous Affairs Nigel Scullion promised Indigenous communities in Queensland $105 million to be provided “directly to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Councils to fund remote Indigenous housing”. It wasn’t the funding they had hoped for, after the federal Government walked away from the National Partnership Agreement on Remote Indigenous Housing, but it was welcomed.
More than six months after the election no funding has been delivered and there is no indication that any progress has been made. No construction has begun and no jobs have been created while waitlists continue to grow longer.
Cairns-based Senator, Nita Green, met with the leaders in Canberra who spoke of the very real health issues that arise from overcrowding.
“It is deplorable that Warren Entsch would make promises to communities desperate for housing and then fail to do anything for six months. Adequate housing is a crucial step to support the health and economic outcomes of First Nation communities”, said Senator Green.
Labor stands with the local Indigenous community leaders and calls on the Government to bring forward this funding now.
Housing is a basic human right and it is unacceptable that these communities are still waiting.