Covid NT: Senator, community group call for action on housing in Katherine

An NT senator and Katherine community group are joining forces to urge action on the housing issue being brought to light by Covid in the region.

UPDATE: AS SENATOR Malarndirri McCarthy’s family navigates through the Covid-19 outbreak in Robinson River and Katherine, she urges Territorians to support each other during this critical time.

Ms McCarthy said it was terrific to see vaccine rates rising across the NT.

“The Territory always punches above its weight and now is no different,” Ms McCarthy said.

“I reiterate the words of the Chief Minister that we need to see the vaccine rates rise in Katherine – the Covid-19 vaccine will help protect you from the disease and keep you out of hospital.

“It will reduce the severity of the infection.”

Ms McCarthy said people who are in lockdown were allowed to leave the house to get vaccinated.

“Health workers will keep you safe,” she said.

EARLIER: SENATOR Malarndirri McCarthy has accused the federal government of being too slow to respond to the pandemic and protection of indigenous communities.

Ms McCarthy said the government had inadequately carried out its “two jobs”.

“If we go back to the beginning (of the pandemic), the federal government had two jobs – to build quarantine facilities and vaccinate people,” Ms McCarthy said.

“To get to the end of the year and to get to this situation where we are facing a major battle with housing and overcrowding is really not good enough.”

Kalano Community Association acting chief executive officer Alan Mole backed up calls for more housing, especially in Katherine, a cause he’s been working towards for a while.

“I think the problem should have been addressed years ago — we are always having a conversation with government in regards to short term accommodation and need for it in Katherine,” he said.

Senator Malarndirri McCarthy. Picture: Floss Adams.

“More short term accommodation would have helped especially with the situation we’re in currently with Covid and the lockdown.”

A spokesman for federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said vaccinating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people against Covid-19 was and continued to be a priority for the Australian Government.

“In response to the current outbreak in Katherine and Robinson River, we have provided additional vaccine supply through ACCHS in the area,” the spokesman said.

“We have ensured that all Australians have had access to a COVID-19 vaccine through more than 10,000 channels across the country, including 79 primary care sites in the NT.”

According to the federal government, the national average of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and have received their second dose was 57.7 per cent, with the NT close behind at 52.6 per cent.

The spokesman said Mr Hunt had spoken with Senator McCarthy both to check on the welfare of her family and on to ensure she was consulted as part of the Biosecurity declaration for Robinson River.

“Senator McCarthy thanked him and supported the decision for Robinson River – no such concerns were raised in their conversation,” they said.

Ms McCarthy said it was important the federal government and NTG come up with stronger policies.

“A stronger homeland policy and housing policy are concerns that we have raised consistently for some time,” she said. “Housing is the key here, the fact people can’t isolate when there are 15 to 20 people in a house compounds the situation and makes it even worse.”

The spokesman said overcrowded housing is a Territory matter and any inquiries were “best placed with the NT Government”.

Originally published as Covid NT: Senator, community group call for action on housing in Katherine