NT granted $4 billion for new housing but many want to see First Nations design involvement

The federal and Northern Territory governments will jointly allocate $4 billion over 10 years for housing development in remote communities across the Northern Territory, in a move that they say will contribute toward Closing the Gap.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese revealed the funding commitment during a visit to the Northern Territory's Binjari community, near Katherine. Under the initiative, 270 new homes will be constructed each year, with the aim of reducing overcrowding in houses by half. The funds will also assist with housing repairs and maintenance.

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

The Wilya Janta Housing Collaboration - a not-for-profit Aboriginal cultural consultancy comprising Aboriginal Housing NT, Julalikari Council Aboriginal Corporation, Emergent Group, Original Power, King and Wood Mallesons, and architecture firms Office and Troppo - has welcomed the funding but is pushing for First Nations involvement during the design and planning process.

Wilya Janta CEO Simon Quilty said the "current model of community engagement in housing design is failing. Homes in remote communities are overcrowded and overheated, fuelling the social, health, and cultural inequities faced by Aboriginal communities.

"While commendable, this funding will only make a difference if governments are genuinely committed to engaging with community and working on innovative solutions to housing design and evaluation. Building houses is one thing, building trust and community is another."

Jimmy Frank Jupurrurla, a Warumungu man and chair of Wilya Janta, mentioned that while the announcement is a positive step in the right direction, it is crucial that these new houses are well-equipped to withstand extremely hot weather caused by climate change.