Remote home ownership key

CLEARING the path for indigenous home ownership on traditional lands and in remote communities should be a focus of governments.

CLEARING the path for indigenous home ownership on traditional lands and in remote communities should be a focus of governments as a way to lift Aborigines out of poverty.

In his blueprint, Andrew Forrest repeats indigenous leader Noel Pearson’s oft-repeated words that Aborigines are “land rich and dirt poor’’, holding native title over 20 per cent of Australia but with fewer than 20 home owners with a long-term lease or freehold on traditional lands or remote communities.

Mr Forrest has warned that public housing is helping perpetu­ate poverty, with low rents and income testing that discourages people from seeking work because of a well-founded fear they could lose their home if their wages become too high.

“When we look at the reasons for serious disadvantage, we don’t have to go much further than housing policy,’’ he wrote.

“Our system currently traps First Australians into living in remote communities, whether they want to or not, even when there are no jobs there.’’

The blueprint calls for federal and state governments to encourage home ownership through long-term leases or freehold titles.

Queensland is the only state to offer freehold title in remote communities, after introducing laws this year extinguishing native title on lots set aside for indigenous home ownership.

Mr Forrest has also called for federal intervention in the Northern Territory if councils
fail to properly survey land as a
lot is opened for lease or freehold title.

And he has recommended that Indigenous Business Australia be allowed to seek private-sector investment to enable more low-interest loans to be offered to indigenous Australians who want to buy their own homes.