Queensland Housing Minister calls on the LNP to tell the truth about indigenous housing

Published Tuesday, 13 February, 2018 at 12:37 PM

Minister for Housing and Public Works, Minister for Digital Technology and Minister for Sport
The Honourable Mick de Brenni

Queensland’s Minister for Housing Mick de Brenni has today, on the tenth anniversary of the Rudd Government’s Apology to Indigenous Australians, called on Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion to come clean about remote indigenous housing funding.

Mr de Brenni said Mr Scullion misled Federal Parliament yesterday when he accused State Governments of withdrawing funding for remote housing.

“On the same day the Prime Minister spoke on the Closing the Gap report to Parliament in Canberra, the Federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs has sought to lay the blame for his own government’s failure on the states,” Mr de Brenni said.

“I met with Nigel Scullion last week in Canberra, where he told me, clearly and unequivocally, that the Commonwealth Government would no longer fund housing in remote indigenous communities.

“This is a historic withdrawal of support for Closing the Gap from the Commonwealth Government – Nigel Scullion is the first Indigenous Affairs Minister in living memory not to have a budget for indigenous housing outcomes.

“If Minister Scullion wants to oversee such a radical shift in indigenous affairs policy, he should be across the details. It’s the Federal Government withdrawing funding, not the States.

“He needs to tell the truth to the Australian people. The Queensland Government is committed to continuing and increasing our level of investment in remote indigenous housing – to say otherwise is simply untrue.”

Mr de Brenni also called on State Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington to be up front with Queenslanders.

“The Federal Coalition have decided to walk away from Queenslanders who live in remote communities – and I’ve yet to hear a word from Deb Frecklington or the LNP,” Mr de Brenni said.

“If Deb Frecklington wants to be a leader in Queensland, she cannot at the same time remain silent on the basic human right to shelter of indigenous people in her community.

“Will she show some fortitude and stand up to the Turnbull Government to demand fair funding - or will she put her mates in Canberra ahead of Queensland, and turn her back on the very people she is supposed to represent?”

ENDS

Media contact: Cat Milton 0410 644 113