Natasha Robinson; 23/12/09
The Bligh government’s plan to open the way for Aboriginal home ownership in remote north Queensland settlements is failing, as not a single home loan has been signed since a new leasing scheme was introduced 18 months ago. Native title laws are being blamed for the bureaucratic bottleneck that has left Aborigines who are keen to own a home forced to remain in the public housing system. The statutory body that facilitates home loans for Aborigines living in remote communities, Indigenous Business Australia, says it is “ready to write home loans tomorrow” for a number of families, but negotiations over native title have stalled their plans. IBA general manager Ron Morony said achieving home ownership had been much more difficult for Aborigines in Queensland than it had for those in remote communities in the Northern Territory, where 12 home loans had been signed and another 29 people were waiting for loans to be approved.
See: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/blighs-plan-for-aboriginal-home-ownership-failing/story-e6frg6nf-1225812929696; An idea to repair the flawed foundations of state; David Nason; 19/12/09; http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/features/an-idea-to-repair-the-flawed-foundations-of-state/story-e6frg6z6-1225811892041; The dead hand of red tape; Editorial; 23/12/09; http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/the-dead-hand-of-red-tape/story-e6frg71x-1225812920191;
Tags: Aboriginal, Australia, Housing, Human Rights