Mark Arbib (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Social Housing and Homelessness) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Payne is wrong. This is a program that is delivering results for Indigenous people. Look at the new houses that are being put in place—again, 179 new houses and 1,036 rebuilds. The program is already ahead of the targets we set. Money is being brought forward so that we can do more. Senator Payne is right that, in the first period of SIHIP, there were issues and the government has said that. But at the same time Minister Macklin stepped in and put in place her own FaHCSIA officials to work with the Northern Territory to get the program back on track—and it is back on track. We are meeting our targets. This is a good result for the government, a good result for Indigenous people and a good result for the Territory. Senator Payne has her facts wrong.