Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is set to announce a landmark 10-year agreement valued at A$4 billion to address remote housing shortages in the Northern Territory (NT).
The deal, forged in collaboration with the NT Government, the NT’s Aboriginal land councils and Aboriginal Housing NT, will address the issue of overcrowding, which has become critical in the territory and is currently the highest in the country.
NT chief minister Eva Lawler said the scheme would benefit more than 10,000 residents across remote communities.
Overcrowding halved
Over the span of a decade, the funding is projected to facilitate the construction of 270 new homes annually in the NT, culminating in a total of 2,700 homes and halving the overcrowding rate.
The announcement marks a continuation of efforts to address housing shortages in NT's Indigenous communities, following a previous initiative that has resulted in the construction of 650 homes since 2018.
Prime Minister Albanese highlighted the critical role of housing in achieving broader Closing the Gap targets related to education and health.
Appearing in an interview on ABC Radio National this morning, he underscored the foundational need for housing security to foster greater life opportunities.
Skye Thompson, the chief executive of Aboriginal Housing NT, described the agreement as an unprecedented investment in the territory's remote housing and homelands sector.
Upgraded housing and infrastructure
The package includes an additional $120 million federal investment over three years, matched by the NT Government, to upgrade housing and infrastructure in remote homelands.
This expansion acknowledges the urgent need for housing solutions in smaller outstations traditionally excluded from funding agreements.
The implementation details of the comprehensive housing deal remain under wraps as discussions continue, but concerns have been raised regarding the durability of prefabricated homes in the NT's harsh climate.
While most welcome the move, community and organisational stakeholders are calling for transparency and engagement in the rollout process to ensure the initiative's success and longevity.