The Federal Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney is in Mparntwe Alice Springs to deliver news about Federal budget funding for Central Australia.
During her visit, Minister Burney will be joined by Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians and Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health Malarndirri McCarthy and the Member for Lingiari Marion Scrymgour.
The Federal Budget included a range of measures and targeted investment in Central Australia including justice, health, community safety, infrastructure and housing.
Justice reinvestment
- The Albanese government has committed a landmark $99 million for First Nations justice measures. This includes $81.5 million in funding for up to 30 community-led justice reinvestment initiatives across Australia, with Alice Springs identified as a priority site.
Indigenous health
- $19 million for First Nations health infrastructure projects in Central Australia in partnership with the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress. This includes funding for the rebuild of the Muṯitjulu Health Service Clinic, funding for renovations of the Ltyentye Apurte (Santa Teresa) Clinic, and funding for a new health hub in Alice Springs.
Community Safety
- $14 million over four years as part of the Albanese Government’s Central Australia Plan to deliver immediate and medium-term crime prevention and community safety programs in Central Australia.
Roads and infrastructure
- $350 million of additional funding to continue upgrading the Tanami Road and Central Arnhem Road in the Top End, bringing the total commitment to $740 million.
- $200 million of additional funding for the Northern Territory Strategic Roads Package which includes funding for Santa Teresa and the Mereenie Loop , which will bring better economic and social opportunities to remote and regional communities across the Territory, bringing the total to $332 million
Indigenous housing
- $100 million for housing and essential services in Northern Territory Homelands with: an immediate boost of $25 million and a further $75 million allocated in 2023-24.
National Aboriginal Art Gallery
The Federal government is providing $80 million for the National Aboriginal Art Gallery in Alice Springs to establish a world-leading facility.
Quotes attributable to Minister Burney:
“I’m pleased to be in Central Australia to deliver on our election commitments.
“The Albanese government is providing significant funding to important community-led projects in the region.
“From community safety to infrastructure to health, all of these measures are targeted to respond to what communities have been asking for.
“I look forward to seeing these investments come to fruition and bring benefits to people living and working in the Territory.”
Quotes attributable to Senator McCarthy:
“Closing the Gap is a top priority of the Albanese Labor Government and our investment in health will change so many lives for the better.
We’re also delivering a much needed boost to funding on homelands, so that remote Territorians can live in decent houses on country.
“The investment in health and healing acknowledges two important phases of wellbeing for Aboriginal Territorians and by backing community-led projects, gives a real chance to see results.”
Quotes attributable to Marion Scrymgour
"This is a huge investment in Central Australia and in Lingiari. Federal Labor took an ambitious agenda to the election, the people of Lingiari voted for it, and now the Albanese Government is delivering it.
“The Central Australia Plan and the funding in the budget will reinvigorate Alice Springs. It will fund key social and economic projects in town to provide a desperately needed boost after a decade of neglect from the former government.
"This is very exciting, and I look forward to the positive impacts that this funding and these projects will have on our community."