At least three remote Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory have been left without transitional housing while buildings are upgraded, the NT News is reporting.
The NT News published photos of squalid living conditions in the remote community Minyerri earlier in the week – showing displaced families who have been living in makeshift accommodation for several months as their houses were marked for upgrade.
Housing Minister Gerry McCarthy says while he takes responsibility for the lack of transitional accommodation, he won’t be resigning, after Opposition Leader Gary Higgins called for his sacking.
In a statement, the minister said he became aware transitional housing was not funded as part of the housing upgrade program “upon coming to Government” and introduced policy to provide for it.
A spokesman said Mr McCarthy became aware of the lack of housing for Minyerri residents in July, by which time housing upgrades had already commenced.
(IMAGE:Ian Sutton)
