NO.046

NEW HOUSING FOR REMOTE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES

The Treasurer today announced $6 million of Australian Government funding for the commissioning of up to 40 houses for remote Indigenous communities.

This announcement is in addition to the record $3.3 billion provided for Indigenous Australians in the 2006-07 Budget, with around $487.5 million being new announcements covering 24 initiatives.

The funding will help to meet the needs of Indigenous communities by providing new, cost-effective housing for Indigenous people in remote areas.

The funding will involve trials of innovative house construction options, such as modern self-build kit houses, in some remote communities. New houses will be provided in remote communities agreed with State and Territory governments as priority communities.

This additional $6 million is on top of other announcements made on Budget night for sustainable housing in Indigenous communities:

• $21.6 million for the expansion of the Home Ownership Programme which provides access to finance for up to 140 Indigenous people who may not be able to get access to finance from the private sector.
• $107.5 million to support and develop Indigenous home ownership through the provision of affordable home loans on Indigenous land for up to 460 families living in remote Indigenous community towns. 45 new houses will also be constructed and measures introduced to encourage saving for a home loan deposit.

The Treasurer made the announcement at the Kulaluk Mudla Farm, a hatchery which was opened with the support of the Federal Government through a Shared Responsibility Agreement. This mud-crab business employs young people and helps them to develop the financial management and entrepreneurial skills of their business leaders.

The 2006-07 Budget also provided for at least $75m to continue to develop SRAs with communities around Australia.

DARWIN

16 May 2006

Contact: David Alexander

0418 210 601