1 New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council Statewide Conference Presentation by Russ Taylor CEO NSW Aboriginal Housing Office March 2009

2 REFORMS IN ABORIGINAL HOUSING Focus on new Australian Government/ State Government Bi Lateral Arrangements for Aboriginal Housing

3 New Bilateral Agreements Former Commonwealth State Housing Agreement (CSHA) now streamlined and replaced by: Former Commonwealth State Housing Agreement (CSHA) now streamlined and replaced by: New National Affordable Housing Agreement (NAHA) – public performance reporting to CoAG Reform Council New National Affordable Housing Agreement (NAHA) – public performance reporting to CoAG Reform Council NAHA underpinned by specific agreements called National Partnership Agreements (NP): time limited agreements to deliver specific outcomes with funding tied to performance benchmarks NAHA underpinned by specific agreements called National Partnership Agreements (NP): time limited agreements to deliver specific outcomes with funding tied to performance benchmarks Funding from Cwlth Treasury to NSW Treasury Funding from Cwlth Treasury to NSW Treasury

4 REFORM IN ABORIGINAL HOUSING NP Agreement(s) agreed In Principle (Nov 08) but Implementation Plans (IP) involving the specific funding, policy and performance expectations are currently subject to negotiations involving senior officials. NP Agreement(s) agreed In Principle (Nov 08) but Implementation Plans (IP) involving the specific funding, policy and performance expectations are currently subject to negotiations involving senior officials. IP need to be approved by Cwth Minister/Premier by end of March 2009, and IP need to be approved by Cwth Minister/Premier by end of March 2009, and Include significant reform elements Include significant reform elements

5 New Housing Arrangements at a glance New National Affordable Housing Agreement (NAHA) – 10 years but New National Affordable Housing Agreement (NAHA) – 10 years but National Partnership Agreements (NP) National Partnership Agreements (NP) Social Housing – 2 years Social Housing – 2 years Homelessness – 5 years Homelessness – 5 years Remote Indigenous Housing – 10 years Remote Indigenous Housing – 10 years Note Related NPs (but not Housing specific) Note Related NPs (but not Housing specific) Remote Service Delivery Remote Service Delivery Economic Development Economic Development

6 Broad details of NAHA NPs Funding Availability to NSW under each NP Funding Availability to NSW under each NP (as indicated November 2008) Social Housing (2 years )$130 m Social Housing (2 years )$130 m Homelessness (4 years )$101 m Homelessness (4 years )$101 m Aboriginal Specific funding in : Remote Indigenous Housing (10 years)$397 m Remote Indigenous Housing (10 years)$397 m Note: All Implementation Plans still under negotiation and some key issues remain to be settled.

7 KEY REFORM ELEMENTS Purpose and focus of Remote Indigenous Housing NP: Social inclusion and Indigenous disadvantage (Closing the Gap) Social inclusion and Indigenous disadvantage (Closing the Gap) Address overcrowding, homelessness, poor housing and housing shortages Address overcrowding, homelessness, poor housing and housing shortages Sustainability & Viability Sustainability & Viability Protection of Government Investment Protection of Government Investment

8 KEY REFORM ELEMENTS Remote Indigenous Housing NP Significant funding for remote needs Purpose: New Construction & Upgrades Repairs & Maintenance* (*across NSW) Employment & Training elements

9 KEY REFORM ELEMENTS New Govt Roles and Responsibilities Key Element of NAHA and Remote Indigenous Housing NP: NSW Government to assume responsibility for Indigenous Housing including the Indigenous Community Housing Organisational (ICHO) sector

10 Key Reform Elements Performance Reporting Arrangements (once agreed to) will incorporate specific stringent reporting and performance measures Arrangements (once agreed to) will incorporate specific stringent reporting and performance measures (eg No of new houses, maintenance levels achieved, reductions in overcrowding & homelessness, reforms to tenancy arrangements, training levels etc)

11 KEY REFORM ELEMENTS Provides for negotiation and agreement about Ensuring provision of robust and standardised tenancy management (inc rent collection, asset protection, governance arrangements and support) consistent with ‘public housing standards’ Ensuring provision of robust and standardised tenancy management (inc rent collection, asset protection, governance arrangements and support) consistent with ‘public housing standards’ developing and implementing land tenure agreements to facilitate effective asset management, essential services, home ownership and economic development opportunities developing and implementing land tenure agreements to facilitate effective asset management, essential services, home ownership and economic development opportunities Provides for agreement on improving Aboriginal employment opportunities through capital works programs. Provides for agreement on improving Aboriginal employment opportunities through capital works programs.

12 KEY REFORM ELEMENTS and will no doubt involve a focus on: Individual tenancy management (inc capacity to replace service provider if required) and Individual tenancy management (inc capacity to replace service provider if required) and Headleasing over land/assets (sufficient to protect government investment) Headleasing over land/assets (sufficient to protect government investment)

13 KEY MESSAGE FOR TODAY From such Bi-lateral Agreement making, it is clear that both the Australian Government and the NSW Government: Seek to improve housing conditions in the Aboriginal community sector Seek to improve housing conditions in the Aboriginal community sector Are providing significant resources Are providing significant resources Seek to work with the sector to deliver the required improved conditions and Seek to work with the sector to deliver the required improved conditions and Expect to see significant improvements and reform during the terms of these agreements. Expect to see significant improvements and reform during the terms of these agreements.