>27 April 2000 > >Survey of Indigenous housing marks progress while defining demand > >A new survey of the housing and infrastructure needs of Aboriginal and >Torres Strait Islander people shows evidence of improvements in living >conditions in many communities. > >However, it also demonstrates the size of the task still facing governments. > >The Australian Bureau of Statistics report, Housing and Infrastructure in >Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities 1999, was commissioned and >funded by ATSIC and is only the first survey of its kind since 1992. >During today's launch in Canberra, the federal Minister for Aboriginal and >Torres Strait Islander Affairs, Senator John Herron, said the survey's >release was very timely. > >"Health and housing are pillars of the government's Indigenous affairs >strategy and this survey provides up-to-date information about both issues," >Senator Herron said. > >"It will take some time for the government to properly analyse the data, but >there are enormous implications for governments at all levels. > >"This research is an important tool by which we can all be guided in our >combined efforts to improve the health and living conditions in Aboriginal >and Torres Islander communities. The need is indisputable - what we must do >now is simply be assured that we are all heading in the right direction." > >Meanwhile, the chairperson of ATSIC's Queanbeyan Regional Council, Yodie >Batzke, said there should no longer be any doubt that ATSIC is making >progress towards improving living conditions in Indigenous communities. >"This survey from the ABS is proof," Ms Batzke said. > >"The impact of ATSIC's housing and infrastructure program is shown by the 25 >per cent drop over seven years in the housing that needed major repairs or >replacement. We've also seen a drop in the rate of overcrowding in remote >and rural areas - the same places that ATSIC has targeted with its housing >program. > >"What we need next is a commitment to more funding to allow ATSIC to >complete the job. The funds currently available don't allow ATSIC to attack >the backlog of housing needs while also servicing the growth in demand." >ATSIC's chief Executive Officer, Mark Sullivan, said ABS and ATSIC used >national and state advisory groups and extensively tested survey questions >and collection methodology to ensure that data was obtained with a minimum >amount of intrusion in communities. > >"ATSIC is keen to work with the government to put the finishing touches to >its 10 year strategic plan for ensuring all Indigenous families have access >to adequate and sustainable living environments. ATSIC looks forward to >continuing its productive relationship with ABS, including another housing >needs survey planned for next year." > >Contacts: Russ Street (Senator Herron's office) >02 6277 7620 > Martin Freckmann (ATSIC) >02 6121 4962 > > > > ------------------------------------------------------ RecOzNet2 has a page @ http://www.green.net.au/recoznet2 and is archived at http://www.mail-archive.com/ To unsubscribe from this list, mail [EMAIL PROTECTED], and in the body of the message, include the words: unsubscribe announce or click here mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20announce This posting is provided to the individual members of this group without permission from the copyright owner for purposes of criticism, comment, scholarship and research under the "fair use" provisions of the Federal copyright laws and it may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner, except for "fair use." RecOzNet2 is archived for members @ http://www.mail-archive.com/recoznet2%40paradigm4.com.au/
