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

I welcome the question from Senator Payne about SIHIP. There has been a great deal of discussion about SIHIP in this chamber and I have talked about the positive results that SIHIP has achieved throughout the Northern Territory. SIHIP is on track to deliver its target on time and on budget. It has already delivered 179 new houses, and 1,036 rebuilds and refurbishments. It has exceeded its end of year 2010 targets of 150 new houses and 1,000 rebuilds and refurbishments.

I have also previously announced in this chamber that the Australian government has recently brought forward $316 million over the forward estimates for the national partnership. Of these funds, $190 million will be used for housing-related infrastructure, including sewerage and power. This will result in around 180 new houses and 180 rebuilds being ahead of schedule by the end of 2013. This is over and above the original SIHIP targets of 750 new houses and 2,730 rebuilds and refurbishments.

In relation to employment we know that SIHIP has already exceeded the employment targets that the government have set. We set a target of 20 per cent; we have already exceeded it with 30 per cent. They are jobs for Indigenous people—