[Greens-Media] NT Land Rights Act condemned by UN rapporteur on housing

[Twomey, Chris (Sen R. Siewert)]

NT Land Rights Act condemned by UN rapporteur on housing


A preliminary report today by the UN Special Rapporteur on Housing,
Miloon Kothari was highly critical of the government's approach to
Aboriginal housing and the changes to the NT Land Rights Act currently
going through the Senate.

 Mr Kothari's report comes on the back of strong criticism of the
Government's approach by Land Councils, traditional owners, the
community, Greens, ALP and Democrats.

"The living conditions, lack of appropriate housing and civic services
experienced by Aboriginal Australians are an international disgrace,
unfortunately I'm not surprised at Mr Kothari's findings" said Senator
Siewert. 

Senator Siewert welcomed Mr Kothari's comments and condemned criticism
by Senator Rod Kemp as undue and ill-considered.

"The arrogance of the Minister in dismissing the comments of Mr Kothari
out of hand is truly shocking."

"He is well respected as an international expert on appropriate housing,
who made thoughtful and well-considered suggestions on how to improve
the housing crisis faced by Aboriginal Australians," she said. "This is
Government hubris at its most extreme."

Mr Kothari gave what he described as a 'strong assessment' of the state
of Indigenous housing, stating that some of the situation he had seen
were "...among the worst in the world."

He called for a human rights approach to Indigenous housing, saying that
it was a "humanitarian problem" in Australia because it has continued
unchecked for decades.

"It is striking that government policies have not been able to address
this problem," he said.

For information or comment call

Chris Twomey

Personal Advisor

Senator Rachel Siewert

Australian Greens Senator for Western Australia

WA office: 08 9228 3277 Canberra: 02 6277 3587

mobile: 0407 725 025

www.rachelsiewert.org.au