Hon. MAJ SCANLON (Gaven—ALP) (Minister for Housing) (9.47 am): Closing the gap is
underpinned by the belief that when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a voice—a
genuine say in the design and delivery of policies, programs and services that affect them—better life
outcomes are achieved. While significant progress has been made to reduce overcrowding in Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander households, the gap is still too high. To change that, last week I announced
the next phase of our new First Nations Housing Action Plan—a plan that will be designed with the
voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It builds on the work we have already done in
our first plan: establishing a First Nations housing peak body; supporting First Nations home ownership
with 205 homes transferred, new builds, home extensions and additional land lots; and a First Nations
traineeship program supporting 61 First Nations people to get a qualification and on-the-job training.
What is clear is that, while we continue to invest, more is needed in housing for remote
communities, and of course there is still more work to be done. That is why it was so disappointing that
the former federal LNP government walked away from the National Partnership Agreement on Remote
Indigenous Housing. In stark contrast, in this year’s budget, we are investing $153 million of additional
funding to roll out First Nations housing solutions and continue the delivery of remote and discrete
community social housing.

A house is not just a home; it is an avenue to better education, employment and financial and
health outcomes. There is still more to do, but if we are ever going to close the gap we must listen to
the voices of First Nations people, and that is exactly what our Labor government will do.

To see the speech, click here: http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/docs/find.aspx?id=0Mba20230616_094749