Queensland’s Indigenous leaders have accused all sides of politics of ignoring the chronic overcrowding plaguing communities across the state as time ticks down to Saturday’s Federal election.
Speaking at the Local Government Association of Queensland’s Indigenous Leaders’ Forum – being hosted by Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council – Lockhart River Mayor, Wayne Butcher said politicians had failed to even visit some communities ahead of polling day.
“We have entire families living in a single bedroom,” Mayor Butcher said.
“We have multiple generations in one house, with 15 people sharing homes with two bedrooms.
“Things have to change. It is Federal funding, like the old National Partnership Agreement on Remote Indigenous Housing (NPARIH) scheme, that we need to get more people in more homes.
“Children are finding it difficult to get a good night’s sleep which hurts their school attendance.
“Our people are dying more than 20 years younger than the rest of the country because of inequality and the lack of housing investment which is directly impacting on their health.”
LGAQ President, Matt Burnett said that while Councils had welcomed a $1.5 billion Housing Support Program from the Federal Government, member councils desperately needed more support.
“Having visited these communities, it is blatantly obvious overcrowding cannot be allowed to continue,” President Burnett said.
“Our councils are telling us NPARIH made a real difference and that is the type of scheme we need brought back.
“Tackling overcrowding is the gateway to helping improve health, education and economic outcomes.”
Hope Vale Mayor, Bruce Gibson said land tenure reform was needed to open the way for more homes.
“You cannot build a home without the land to put it on,” Mayor Gibson said.
“We need to put in place the right plans now to allow for the housing we severely need. We need 62 extra houses now, just to break even, and more for the future.”
Woorabinda Mayor, Terence Munns said his community needed 30 homes just to “keep their heads above water”.
“It’s as basic as when families are in overcrowded homes, kids don’t sleep, their school work suffers and their parents struggle,” Mayor Munns said.
“That’s before you tally up the health cost and the illness that we have to deal with. You can’t have a proper home life without a proper home.”
Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council Mayor, Robert Poipoi said current housing funding was falling further and further behind community needs.
“We’ve already got the subdivisions already in place and need the funding now to build the homes,” Mayor Poipoi.
“But every day without the housing funding, we go further backwards. Without homes, it causes more social impacts on families and communities – health, youth crime and education goes the wrong direction.”
Wujal Wujal Mayor, Alister Gibson said more funding would benefit Wujal Wujal for housing to accommodate families, reduce overcrowding and give each individual families a space they can call home.
“Overcrowding hurts our kids, their education and their potential. More funding would mean more space for families to fulfill their potential,” Mayor Gibson said.
Yarrabah Mayor, Daryl Sexton said his community of 3,500 people was currently squeezed into 380 homes.
“We have 120 applicants for homes but we don’t have the land to build on,” Mayor Sexton said.
“It increases unrest in the community, hurts kids getting to school on time and family conflict.
“When you have four generations of a family in one three-bedroom home it is almost impossible to get to school and work on time.
“We’ve got plans drawn up for more subdivisions but we need more funding to get the homes built.”
LGAQ CEO, Alison Smith said the Association’s Federal Election advocacy for fairer funding for Councils provided candidates with a suite of measures to support Queensland communities and deliver a $73.8 billion boost to the State’s economy as well as create more than 105,000 jobs.
“Our campaign identifies the lack of Indigenous housing as a key concern and calls on the Federal Government to address overcrowding and support economic development in remote and discrete communities,” Ms Smith said.
“Our campaign also shows the federal funding model for councils has not kept pace with what communities need.
“Well-funded councils create more liveable communities, and at this federal election we’re calling for a fairer deal for councils and improvements to a federal funding model that dates back to the 1970s.”
More detail can be found at www.dontleaveusinthe70s.com.au.
