COUNTRY LIBERALS DELIVERING $10 MILLION TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS IN DARWIN

THE Liberal and Nationals Government is delivering safer communities in regional Australia including through a new $10 million accommodation facility in Darwin in partnership with Aboriginal Hostels Limited to support homeless people and visitors from remote communities.

The $10 million investment will enable Aboriginal Hostels Limited to provide a 70 bed temporary accommodation facility for homeless residents of Darwin through the construction of a new hostel. It will increase community support services such as night patrol and drug and alcohol treatment services.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack was in Darwin with Country Liberals Candidate for Solomon Kathy Ganley and Country Liberals Candidate for Lingiari Jacinta Price today to announce this important investment in the Territory which will improve support for homeless people and address community safety issues in Darwin.

"It is great to be in Darwin to announce yet another significant piece of infrastructure that will help make Darwin and the Territory a better place to live,” Mr McCormack said.

"Kathy and Jacinta have been champions for this project and it is great to be able to deliver a project that will make the community safer.”

Country Liberals Candidate for Solomon, Kathy Ganley said she was pleased to have been able to deliver this new investment for Darwin and the Territory that will not only help support homeless Territorians but help address the out of control crime and disorder that Territory Labor has done nothing to fix.

"Businesses in Darwin and Palmerston have told me that more needs to be done to help get homeless residents off the streets and into safe accommodation and stop the endless cycle of crime that is affecting businesses every day under Michael Gunner,” Ms Ganley said.

"I have also been working with local Aboriginal organisations including Larrakia Nation and agreed to take up the fight to deliver this kind of facility as well as increased support services to ensure short-term residents can get the support they need including drug and alcohol treatment services. 

“The Government will work with Larrakia Nation and the Northern Land Council on the final location of the new hostel to ensure it is fit for purpose and culturally appropriate.”

Country Liberals Candidate for Lingiari, Jacinta Price said that this new facility would provide a safe place for residents of remote communities visiting Darwin to stay and help them return to country and back to community.

"Not only has Michael Gunner done nothing to resolve the homelessness issue in Darwin but it's clear he also can't manage the budget and the people that are paying for it are Territorians,” Ms Price said.

"He is raising taxes and cutting services and this new investment from the Commonwealth would not be possible without the strong economic management of the Liberal and Nationals Government in Canberra.”

Aboriginal Hostels Limited is a wholly owned Commonwealth company and operator of 47 hostels across the country. It is an experience and trusted provider of transitional accommodation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians who need to live away from home.

Funding for this $10 million community safety package for the Northern Territory has been allocated out of existing resources within the $5.2 billion Indigenous Advancement Strategy.