First Nations council leaders issue urgent housing plea

Published on 05 May 2026

First Nations council leaders issue urgent housing plea ahead of Federal Budget

First Nations Mayors are calling on the Federal Government to acknowledge their almost decade-long plea for funding to alleviate chronic levels of overcrowding that are having devastating flow on impacts to health and education and holding their communities back.

The Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) and First Nations mayors say residents in First Nations communities are paying a high price for years of underinvestment in housing, and they’re calling on the Federal Government to do far more, starting with a $400 million funding allocation in the May Federal Budget.

LGAQ President Mayor Matt Burnett said the state’s remote accommodation crisis can only be resolved by “more Federal Government funding.”

“Overcrowding in First Nations communities has reached critical levels and without an urgent federal funding injection, the situation will continue to deteriorate,” he said.

“In Yarrabah, just south of Cairns, there are approximately 400 homes housing a population of almost 5,000 people, with other First Nations communities facing similar overcrowding.

“We’re calling for at least $400 million over four years to be earmarked in the Federal Budget, enabling Queensland’s 17 First Nations councils to kickstart crucial housing construction.”

The call ahead of the Federal Budget follows last year's desperate plea in the form of an open letter released by First Nations leaders ahead of the 2025 Federal Election.

LGAQ CEO Alison Smith said a lack of housing has been consistently cited as a key concern across Queensland’s remote and discrete First Nations communities.

“During the National Partnership Agreement on Remote Indigenous Housing (NPARIH) when all levels of government were working together overcrowding rates decreased,” Ms Smith said.

“Since the end of the NPARIH, overcrowding is again worsening and with it the negative impacts to health, education, and domestic and family violence.

“Councils have vast on-the-ground knowledge about the housing these communities need, and they can partner with the Federal Government to ensure it’s delivered.”

A timeline of inaction: Overcrowding in First Nations communities in Queensland

The National Partnership Agreement on Remote Indigenous Housing, designed to tackle the severe housing shortages and overcrowding in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities ended June 30, 2018.
A review of the agreement by the Federal Government said the Strategy made a significant positive agreement to the rates of overcrowding but that further government investment is required to address continued overcrowding.
Despite this, there is no replacement program.
Overcrowding began increasing again in discrete Queensland First Nations communities following the programs end.
In some remote First Nations communities, there are accounts of over ten people living in two and three-bedroom homes, and a shortfall of thousands of houses across communities which are among our most vulnerable.
First Nations councils and the LGAQ plead for funding to address overcrowding at the 2019 Federal Election. This was ignored.
A surge in COVID cases in remote and discrete Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities during 2022 reinforces the urgent need for more Federal funding to increase housing supply and combat overcrowding.
First Nations councils and the LGAQ plead for funding to address overcrowding at the 2022 Federal Election. This was ignored. First Nations mayors continue their relentless advocacy calling for urgent investment in housing as overcrowding worsens health outcomes and makes school and study near impossible in their communities, releasing an open letter to all political parties contesting the 2025 Federal Election. To date, no commitment has been made.

Quotes from First Nations Mayors

Mayor of Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council Daryl Sexton

“Lack of housing and overcrowding means a lot of health worries for our community. A lot of our community members are on dialysis, a lot of our school children are not attending school, because of nowhere safe to sleep. The lack of housing makes it unliveable in our community.

We can see upwards of twenty people living in a single house which can create conflict within that family group. We have almost 400 homes – and that same amount on our waiting list. One house will come up and you get 20 people enquiring about it. There is often three generations of family in one home.”

Mayor of Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Council Bruce Gibson

“Overcrowding and a lack of housing impact on our social determinants – which include education, health and general wellbeing of communities who live in overcrowded houses. The kids just don't have any space. It impacts their education, their ability to do homework, and their ability to be a child. We need 62 houses just to break even with the current population. It impacts on people having a normal life.”

Mayor of Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council Alf Lacey

“Housing is something that is so important to us – when we have a population of about 4,500 residents in our town – coupled with about 410 housing dwellings in our community. The numbers speak for themselves. There is massive overcrowding, and we need more affordable housing and delivery of social housing for our community.

It's really important to the future growth of our community, particularly for young families to move into a dwelling they can call their place – their home. You can have up to 20 and 30 people living in a 3- or 4-bedroom dwelling. I would like to see the Commonwealth afford us the same right as other states in terms of their investment – our ask would be for a similar investment.”

Mayor of Woorabinda Aboriginal Shire Council Terence Munns

“For my community lack of housing and overcrowding causes breakup of families, and disconnection with community and family. Our young ones experience lack of sleep – when you have overcrowding with teenagers in and out of the house at all hours of night. With our lack of housing we can't grow and we can't thrive. More housing means more our local jobs and would help grow our local economy.”

Mayor of Torres Shire Council Elsie Seriat

“A lack of housing means a strain on households - health issues, education issues and no sense of belonging and ownership. Where we are in the Torres Strait is gold set in a pearl environment that has diamond potential – which is a quote from my former Mayor.

We need more houses for our people because people are moving away. Housing is so important to us to keep people at home, have our own workforce, and have our schools.

We have a lot of potential for development – land that we are seeking to be unlocked from the government. This would enable us to build more houses. We are looking to build over 250 homes. We just need the Government to walk with us so we can have real outcomes for our community.”

For more information, please contact:

Martin Philip, Media Advisor
Phone: 07 3155 4003
Local Government Association of Queensland