Scullion 'phone home' for Christmas update on remote communities

• Turnbull Government backflips on issue of long-term funding for indigenous Australia

The Federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs Nigel Scullion should 'phone home' and speak directly with Housing ministers in Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland rather than firing from the lip over the issue of Commonwealth funding cuts to remote communities.

Reports broke earlier this week that the Turnbull Government planned to walk away from a long-term funding agreement with the State Government that is essential to sustainably support about 165 remote communities in WA.

The relevant ministers in South Australia and Queensland were also advised of this development and were similarly outraged and appalled.

Senator Scullion went into damage control - with a press release yesterday stating: "It is complete and utter nonsense to suggest that Commonwealth funding for housing is ceasing . In fact, the Commonwealth commenced discussions with Western Australian Government officials only yesterday about a future funding contribution to remote Indigenous housing."

This backflip is welcome, but must be treated cautiously.

The Turnbull administration should be under no illusion that the States, including WA, that will be affected when the current National Partnership Agreement on Remote Housing ends in mid-2018, will meekly accept a token, one-off payment for remote communities.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and his Cabinet colleagues - especially those from WA - must now demonstrate some clarity and transparency around future, long-term funding arrangements.

The McGowan Government remains true to its election pledge that no remote communities will be forcibly closed on its watch.

Comments attributed to Housing Minister Peter Tinley:

"I raised this issue publicly as soon as I heard from senior departmental officials that the Turnbull Government intended to walk away from a long-term funding arrangement with WA.

"Since I became Housing Minister in March, WA has engaged in good faith talks with Senator Scullion to develop a new long-term agreement. At no time during the past months did Senator Scullion give me any indication this would not happen.

"Senator Scullion has personally expressed to me his preference for a new bilateral funding agreement based on matching WA in a dollar for dollar funding model.

"So it was with shock and surprise when I heard that the Turnbull Cabinet of which Senator Scullion is a member, had apparently decided to abandon remote communities, indigenous Australia and some of the most vulnerable people in the nation.

"Senator Scullion has now gone into damage control and seems to have flipped position. His media statement noting that the Commonwealth has no intention of ceasing funding for housing (in remote communities) is welcome.

"I just hope this funding reference will not turn out to be some token one-off payment as a prelude to the Turnbull Government abrogating its long-term responsibility to remote communities.

"I understand that Senator Scullion had intended to telephone the relevant ministers and talk them through these latest developments before he left for overseas.

"You can phone home from outside Australia (last time we checked). Perhaps he could try it."

Minister's office - 6552 5300

• Western Australia continues to invest significant funding of about $90 million per annum for remote housing and related infrastructure.
• Appropriate and affordable housing helps families to attain and maintain good health, family, education and employment outcomes.
• The housing system can be a powerful policy lever to help families to achieve better education and employment outcomes and become more independent and resilient.
• The State Government recognises the importance for many Aboriginal people of land, cultural practice and family. Aboriginal people will not be prevented from living remotely or continuing to access country for cultural purposes.
• There are 274 remote Aboriginal communities in WA. About 110 of WA's 274 remote communities are already self-supporting and do not receive any State Government funding or services. Many of these communities have been self-supporting for 30 years or more.
• Infrastructure and service provision in remote Aboriginal communities has been a shared responsibility between State and Commonwealth governments for the past four decades, recognising the Commonwealth's constitutional responsibilities and role in supporting the establishment of many of the smaller communities (the 'outstations or homelands movement')