Northern Territory Election 2020

The Northern Territory has the highest rates of homelessness in Australia, at 6% of our population. We know that additional housing is necessary to address homelessness, and that affordable, appropriate housing provides people with the security and stability to live healthier lives, do well in school, get a job, and join in the social life of their community.

We’re asking candidates at this year’s Territory election to commit to a number of key measures that will provide more Territorians with pathways out of homelessness and into a home.

What the parties have committed to

Below is our scorecard, outlining responses from the major parties to our election asks. For more detailed responses from the parties and candidates, see here.

INCREASE FUNDING TO HOMELESSNESS SERVICES


WILL YOU INCREASE FUNDING TO HOMELESSNESS SERVICES TO MEET THE CURRENT AND FUTURE NEEDS OF VULNERABLE TERRITORIANS?
Step-up the NT Government contribution to the Specialist Homelessness Sector by $2.5 million each year			See Response
Secure a fairer funding deal for the NT by pressing the other States and the Commonwealth for a reset of national partnership funding allocations according to need rather than population share
Design, fund and evaluate a pilot program for 24/7 homeless client intake and care

COMMIT TO CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN REMOTE HOUSING


WILL YOU COMMIT TO CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN REMOTE HOUSING ACROSS THE BUDGET FORWARD ESTIMATES AT A RATE NOT LESS THAN $150 MILLION PER YEAR (NT CONTRIBUTION), INCLUDING LOCAL DECISION MAKING?	In part - see response
Report annually on net new housing stock by community (#houses, #rooms)
Transition to Traditional Owner/community engagement and control over housing delivery as per needs set out by ACCOs, Land Councils and local communities	See Response	See Response
Program evaluation to be conducted every two years to ensure value for money and achievement of program objectives

COMMIT TO A NET ADDITIONAL SUPPLY OF 250 HOMES PER YEAR


WILL YOU COMMIT TO A NET ADDITIONAL SUPPLY OF 250 URBAN SOCIAL AND AFFORDABLE HOMES PER YEAR FOR FOUR YEARS = 1,000 IN TOTAL?		See Response
Press for a national strategy with Commonwealth contributions that accelerates the supply of social and affordable housing post COVID-19		See Response
Provide Community Housing Providers (CHPs) with title to land, stock (title) transfers at scale and 20-year head leasing arrangements. One half of net new supply to be owned and managed by registered CHPs	See Response	In part - see response
Invest in building the capacity of Aboriginal community controlled housing providers - urban, regional and remote
Complete the remaining spend on the $100 Million Public Housing Stimulus program in 2020-21 ($21.6 million outstanding)
Publish plans for new build commitments by region on a rolling four year basis

DELIVER ENOUGH ACCOMMODATION INFRASTRUCTURE TO MEET ROUGH SLEEPER NEEDS


WILL YOU COMMIT TO DELIVERING ENOUGH ACCOMMODATION INFRASTRUCTURE TO MEET ROUGH SLEEPER NEEDS ACROSS URBAN COMMUNITIES, FOR BOTH ABORIGINAL COMMUNITY VISITORS AND LOCAL HOMELESS POPULATIONS?
Short-stay visitor accommodation established in Katherine - work to commence in 2020-21	Seeking clarification
Regional responses to tackle local priority areas - Alice Springs youth homelessness and Tennant Creek emergency accommodation	See Response
Finalise partnership with the Australian Government to deliver $10 million fit-for-purpose short-stay accommodation for Darwin

ADDITIONAL COMMITMENTS FROM THE PARTIES:


Create a Housing and Homelessness Support Working Group to target early and coordinated intervention
Conduct an evaluation of current government strategies
Shared Equity Fund to help Territorians into the property market
Establish a homeless and housing support innovation fund that will enable new ideas to be tested in the Territory