Luke Gosling (Solomon, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

The Albanese Labor government recognise the deep and systemic challenges around homelessness throughout our nation, and we are serious about our plan to deal with homelessness and housing insecurity, which is a growing crisis in this nation. Few things can be as daunting as a lack of certainty around where you'll sleep at night. We all know that homelessness takes many different forms. It can be sleeping rough, couch surfing, living in your car or bouncing between temporary accommodation and mates' places. We also know that there are many other challenges around housing, including affordability, quality and overcrowding, which is a particular problem in the Northern Territory. Our federal government is committed to engaging across the sector, and that's why we've elevated the Housing and Homelessness portfolios back into cabinet.

I know how serious a problem homelessness is from my time as the NT CEO of St Vincent de Paul Society. I'm still a volunteer with Vinnies and recently look part in the CEO sleepout. The profoundly negative impacts of homelessness are obvious. It robs far too many people in our communities of the stability and security needed to flourish and to thrive, and we can't let these issues fester unaddressed. We can't allow more vulnerable people in our community to fall through the cracks. We see certain groups overrepresented far too often, whether it's people fleeing domestic violence, young people, people with disabilities or mental health issues, veterans, the elderly or people who straddle several of these cohorts.

As a Territorian I also welcome the $200 million committed to housing works in remote Aboriginal communities. Knowing the serious issues in these communities, I know this will make a real difference. The problems around quality of housing in remote communities mean that First Nations people are often living in very overcrowded conditions, with up to 20 people living in a three-bedroom house. There are then the knock-on problems with health and sanitation and disruption to kids' sleep and schooling—those social determinants of health. It also creates a bigger reliance on the public housing in Darwin, which is already strained.

In the NT we have wonderful organisations working in this space, such as Yilli Rreung Housing, and I want to acknowledge the board of Yilli and in particular the CEO, Leeanne Caton. Yilli manage 246 properties and have 40 staff, helping to provide housing, which means that more families can have certainty around where they live and sleep. That includes temporary accommodation for those visiting from the communities, so they can be safe when they visit town for various reasons.

I'm also very committed to veterans and our first responders who face housing insecurity from time to time. More than housing insecurity, they can experience homelessness. I think some of the evidence given so far to the royal commission into veteran suicides has shown that. On separation from the ADF—and I've been there, as you have, Mr Deputy Speaker Wilkie—you can be a bit lost sometimes. I understand that. So I was very proud to secure $3 million for a veterans and first responders supported housing hub in my electorate of Darwin. The Scott Palmer service centre, named for Commando Scott Palmer—the only Territorian killed in Afghanistan—will be focused on providing services, accommodation, family support and recreation facilities for those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. The primary goal is to assist our veterans and our first responders to secure permanent accommodation in social housing or in the private rental market.

As I said, I pushed very hard for the royal commission, because I knew that there were systemic problems in the way we supported our men and women in uniform. The same goes for first responders. I think the evidence has pointed to a need for this supported accommodation, with case management and referrals to DVA and organisations such as Open Arms, health professionals and employment services. A supported accommodation facility will save lives. I commend the member for Macnamara for bringing forward this motion, and I know that this government is going to get on with helping our homelessness situation.

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