The Australian and Northern Territory Governments have committed $4 billion over ten years to improve housing in remote Northern Territory communities and homelands. This investment will support significant progress against Closing the Gap, reducing overcrowding and improving housing quality by delivering up to 2,700 houses over ten years and a comprehensive repairs and maintenance program.
It will be delivered through a Federation Funding Agreement with the NT Government, which will commence shortly, to ensure agreements are in place when current arrangements expire on 30 June 2024.
Homelands
The Australian Government has also agreed to extend funding to continue repairing and upgrading housing and essential infrastructure on NT homelands while a sustainable, longer-term approach to housing investment for homelands is developed with key stakeholders.
The Government has committed $120 million over three years from 2024-25 to match the Northern Territory Government’s current homelands investment. This will allow immediate improvements to continue, while a longer term approach to housing on homelands is developed with key partners.
Partnership Agreement with Aboriginal Housing NT and Land Councils
A Partnership Agreement between the members of the Joint Steering Committee Remote Housing NT will also be developed, formalising the roles of members and elements of shared decision making into the development and implementation of the future arrangements.
The Partnership Agreement will support the development and implementation of the long-term package.
The Australian Government will provide $1 million to Aboriginal Housing NT to support their role in this Partnership Agreement and the development of a Community Controlled Housing Model for the Northern Territory.