CONNECT . INNOVATE . ACHIEVE

Indigenous councils gather in show of strength

Published: 22nd March 2018

Queensland’s indigenous councils have gathered in Cairns to speak with Queensland Government and Prime Minister and Cabinet officials to stress the importance of continued federal support for remote housing.

The meeting was the latest in a series of actions taken by indigenous councils to communicate the devastating impact the federal government’s pending withdrawal of discrete funding for housing in remote indigenous communities would have on their communities.

Palm Island Shire Mayor Alf Lacey said the uncertainty around the federal government withdrawal from their responsibility towards this very important Closing the Gap strategy was causing significant distress across the Queensland Indigenous councils and communities. 

Palm Island Shire Mayor Alf Lacey said the housing situation was becoming dire across the far north.
 
“We are insisting that both the Commonwealth and the State give us some assurances on a pathway forward,” he said.
 
Torres Shire Mayor Vonda Malone urged the federal government not to walk away from the successful housing program.
 
“We need our communities to be safe.
 
We need to be able to have our families live in homes as other Australians do.” 
 
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