NT receives $4bn housing investment

The federal and NT governments have announced a joint $4 billion dollar investment for housing in remote communities across the NT.

The investment aims to help “close the gap” between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians and reduce overcrowding by half.

Announcing the new funding during a visit to the community of Binjari, near Katherine in the NT last week, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the 10-year commitment would improve remote housing, see up to 270 homes built each year, and provide continued support for repairs and maintenance.

A partnership agreement will be established between the Commonwealth and NT governments and Aboriginal Housing NT – the territory’s peak First Nations housing body – and Aboriginal Land Councils.

A further $1 million will be provided by the Commonwealth to Aboriginal Housing NT over the next two years to support its role in this partnership agreement.

The Prime Minister said: “We are committed to practical actions that improve the lives of First Nations people. [This] announcement will improve housing conditions in remote communities and help close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

“This landmark agreement between the Commonwealth, Northern Territory Government and Aboriginal Housing NT delivers a significant investment in remote housing in the NT over the next decade.

“The Northern Territory has the highest level of overcrowding in the country which we are working to halve by building 270 houses each year.”

Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney stated: “This government is committed to improving housing in remote communities and closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

“This is [a] historic investment that will make a difference to the lives of so many Aboriginal people living in remote communities.

“Increasing housing supply will ease overcrowding, which we know is a major barrier to closing the gap.”

The Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy said that better housing for Aboriginal people living in remote NT communities was “a top priority for the Albanese Labor government.”

“This investment is about long-term support to deliver on that commitment and improve housing for families living in remote communities,” McCarthy said.

The NT Chief Minister Eva Lawler added that the move would “achieve unprecedented housing outcomes across the Territory”.

“The commitment to build 2,700 homes in 10 years means new homes for more than 10,000 people,” she said.

“The years to come will provide homes for remote area residents that are safer and more secure, as well as employment and training opportunities for those who live in our communities and homelands.

“This is a game changer for the Territory, as this investment goes straight into the hands of our remote communities and Territory businesses.”

The Albanese Labor government also committed to a further $120 million over three years to match the NT government’s yearly investment to continue delivery of housing improvements and essential infrastructure upgrades in remote homelands.

This builds on the momentum from the Restoring Funding for NT Homelands agreement, which was initiated last year, with a contribution from the federal government worth $100 million.

This funding is in addition to the NT government’s existing $40 million per annum investment in homelands housing and essential infrastructure upgrades.

It forms one of several pre-budget commitments unveiled by the Albanese government recently, which also include stage 3 tax cuts.

[Related: Housing investment bill set to unlock funds for regional Australia]