Indigenous housing dream
All the Budget handouts in the world will not help address one the key causes of growing inequality, poverty and disadvantage in Australia, which is the crisis in housing affordability. Indeed, initiatives relating directly to housing are not very common in recent Budgets. However, reports have suggested that this year may see some new housing specific spending in the area of Indigenous housing. This has been identified as an area which has been chronically underfunded for some time – at state as well as federal level – so one would normally welcome new spending in this area.
However, I am concerned that Indigenous housing is at risk of being used for ideologically driven experimentation. If large amounts of money are spent on ideological frolics which are not backed up by sound economic thinking, there is the risk of wasting an opportunity and failing to help those who need it. I also have this sinking feeling that it may lead to yet another example of governments wasting large amounts of money on a poorly thought through program for Indigenous Australians, and then blaming Indigenous people when it doesn’t work.
Saturday’s Australian newspaper had a front page story about an Aboriginal man from the outstation of Wudapuli, not far from Wadeye in the Northern Territory, gaining possession of a home said to be “the nation’s first purchase of a home on Aboriginal-owned land”. It was a positive, feelgood story, and I hope it turns out to be the forerunner of sustainable good news. But some of the facts, at least as they were presented in the story, puzzle me somewhat and make me wonder just how well this new government push towards individual home ownership in remote communities will work.
The man, who is married with five children, is said to earn “more than $300 a week” through the Community Development Employment Project. The federal government “paid to build the house and estimates its value at about $270 000.” The four bedroom house is being provided to the family on a lease-purchase arrangement, and the family previously “lived in an overcrowded house at the outstation with more than 10 people.”
Minister Mal Brough said “the scheme would replace overcrowded, poorly maintained public housing by encouraging private home owners to take care of their properties.”
All of this sounds nice, although it does have some echoes of former Liberal Leader John Hewson’s slur that tenants don’t look after their homes. However, I think it would be good for Indigenous Australians to be able to own their own houses when they live on Aboriginal land. What does concern me is that this might be encouraged in an economically inefficient or ineffective way.
I’m keen to find out more of the fine detail, but it does raise some questions. Such as how someone on $300 per week can afford to but a $270 000 house? And how did the government arrive at a valuation of $270 000 for a four bedroom house that’s on an outstation about 380 kilometres south-west of Darwin in an area that isn’t even accessible by road for parts of the year? And why do members of the federal government sometimes suggest outstations are not viable and Indigenous people need to move into townships, while also criticising the conditions in townships and spending money funding new houses at outstations?
6 Comments, Comment or Ping
Rob Guy
It is spin designed to sort out the average conscience and get Aboriginal people out of sight and out of mind.
I read an interesting point which referred to African-Americans and their poverty cycle. It was an obvious point besides the lack of role models, having poorer schooling, and parents who often could not provide the home environment to foster success in an educated world. African-Americans generally have a lack of inheritance…..
Thinking objectively land inheritance is an absurd concept which implies that a finite sum can be paid for an asset with infinite value…
May 8th, 2007
Ken
While I think soem of the points you rasie are quite valid and deserve explanation, particualy the valuation issue whcih seems absurd – I think you and many of your posters dont really grasp the fundamental essecne of liberralism, that realtes to a belief in resources being avialable to the purchaser in a compettive marjket as opposed to the supplier in a restricted market.
Despiet all the ballyhoo about bribery and the like – like it or not, right or wriong this has alwasy been one of JWH’s fundamntal belifes.
On the other hand many, youself inlcuded apparently, see funding proveison to the supplier to deliver to the passive purhcaseer as the way to go. Pertty much the oppositve of classic public choice theory.
i am not making a judgemtn one way or the oteghr, howveer it needs to be understood by people. Get ready for moer vouchers
Althoyugh of course the application of the principle is a bit patchy at times when it suits to deviate.
May 9th, 2007
thordaddy
Mr. Bartlett,
The fundamental problem is that if one believes in non-discrimination and absolute tolerance then he can only help others in the most insufficient and nonproductive way. In order to truly help another requires one to be discriminate and intolerant to the pleas of those that can’t be helped.
May 9th, 2007
kyan gadac
Housing solutions in Top End indigenous communities are like layers of rock surrounding the store/office. The remains can be dated back to before the 1950’s – the failure is there for all to see. This is just another layer of concrete apathy. What else can Mal do – tap dance?
May 13th, 2007
Trudi Stanners
I have heard Mal Brough speak with such passion for the indigenous people and the rather difficult portfolio he has been given. The truth is that for decades oodles of money has been spent in this area and yet we have seen virtially no improvement in the conditions, life expectancy and infant mortality rates amongst these (outback) indigenous people. I don’t think they know how to sove their own problems either. What I do see is that Mal Brough has extensively visited these places, knows and understands the issues and is trying his utmost to bring real and sustainable change to our indigeous people. I applaud the attempts he is making in respect to providing training and employment for indigenous. I am no Howard supporter but I reckon that we should get behind Mal Brough because he cares about the indigenous and he is trying to solve a problem which I hear many people raise but none can define a solution and he is a fine representative for the people of Longman!
May 15th, 2007