Ken Wyatt to slam NT remote housing progress, speaking in Darwin tonight

FEDERAL minister for Indigenous Australians, Ken Wyatt, is expected to criticise the Territory for its slow roll out of Indigenous remote housing at a speech in Darwin tonight

Minister for Indigenous Australians Ken Wyatt will tour the NT this week. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

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FEDERAL minister for Indigenous Australians, Ken Wyatt, is expected to criticise the Territory for its slow roll out of Indigenous remote housing at a speech in Darwin tonight.

Mr Wyatt will spend this week in the Northern Territory with events in Darwin, Alice Springs, Jabiru and Tennant Creek – including a keynote speech in Darwin tonight.

According to a copy of the speech, obtained by The Australian, Mr Wyatt is expected to slam the NT Government for the “disgrace” that is the rollout of remote housing upgrades – a process he will describe as “too slow.”

“It is unacceptable that so many Indigenous Australians in the NT live in overcrowded and inadequate housing,” he will say.

“People in remote communities should expect their housing services to be provided — just as they would in any other location in Australia. The fact that this is not happening is a disgrace — and in the year 2020 — and looking ahead to 2021 — something that neither I nor the NT government should allow to happen.”

He is also expected to criticise Darwin’s “disappointing” attempts to pressure Canberra into renewing a multimillion-dollar deal to co-fund remote ­policing.

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“From the outset of this agreement, it was not anticipated that the Australian government would provide further funding beyond its expiration. The delivery of policing in the NT remains an NT government responsibility,” he will say.