In September 2007 the Northern Territory and Australian Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Indigenous Housing Accommodation and Related Services. A key aspect of the MOU is that the NT Government took over responsibility for the delivery of essential and municipal services to outstations from 1 July 2008.

The Minister for Local Government and Housing has provided certainty for the 2008-09 financial year by continuing to fund essential and municipal services and housing management and maintenance at no less than 2007-08 funding levels.

The purpose of this paper is to stimulate consultation and discussion over the development of a Northern Territory Government policy on outstations.

This discussion paper seeks your views as stage one of a five stage policy development process. It is anticipated that formal service and program delivery under a new policy framework could commence in July 2009.

Four policy propositions – Eligibility for Support; Outstations Definition; Hub and Spoke Model and Outstation Service Levels – are identified for comment and input.

Comment is also invited on any additional issues, including research, an advisory group, the status of housing, a monitoring and evaluation framework and the relationship between community living areas and outstations.

Northern Territory Government Outstations Policy Discussion Paper (pdf 694kb)

Outstation Community Engagement Dates

Outstation Policy Questions and Answers (pdf 786kb)

Towards a New Outstations Policy - Media Release

Submissions close on 1 December 2008.

Please forward your submissions to:

Outstations Policy
Office of Indigenous Policy
Department of Chief Minister

GPO Box 4396
DARWIN NT 0801

Phone 08 8999 5270
Email: outstations.dcm@nt.gov.au
Website: www.action.nt.gov.au/outstations

Discussion Paper

1. Executive Summary



2. Background
   1. Policy Background
   2. Economic Issues
   3. The Social Setting
   4. Outstations Infrastructure
   5. Legal Context



3. Issues
   1. Outstation Definitions
   2. Remote Housing Reform
   3. Outstation Service Providers
   4. Key Northern Territory Government Services
   5. Whole of Government Service Level Framework



4. Policy Propositions
   1. Proposition A: Eligibility for Support
   2. Proposition B: A New Outstations Definition
   3. Proposition C: Hub and Spoke Model
   4. Proposition D: Outstation Service Levels
   5. Additional Issues for Comment



5. The Policy Consultation Process