Arabic version: خطة الإسكان النائي في الإقليم الشمالي تواجه جموداً في التمويل

According to ABC News, the Commonwealth and Northern Territory governments are deadlocked over the $4 billion NT Remote Housing agreement, a jointly funded plan intended to reduce overcrowding and improve housing quality in Indigenous communities, town camps and homelands.

Funded in 2024, the agreement promised 2,700 new homes over 10 years. In federal parliament, Senator Lidia Thorpe tabled documents she said showed $330 million in Commonwealth funding had not been delivered, while the Northern Territory government had provided no progress reports. She said building was behind schedule and construction targets were being reduced.

Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy said the Northern Territory would receive funding when it met certain criteria. She said the Country Liberal Party government wanted more money and could seek to reduce the planned number of homes to 1,800 or possibly 1,100.

NT Housing Minister Steve Edgington did not respond to a request for comment by deadline. He told ABC Radio Alice Springs late last month that 400 houses had been built under the agreement, but could not detail spending. He cited rising costs for construction, freight, fuel, labour, infrastructure and servicing land, including power, water and sewage.

Aboriginal members of the Joint Steering Committee said in a September 2025 statement that they had serious concerns about the NT Department of Housing, including unclear reporting and reluctance to share data. The committee, which includes both governments, Aboriginal Housing NT and the four NT land councils, is due to meet next week.