Decades-long overcrowding fuels urgent First Nations housing plea
Published on 16 April 2025
Queensland First Nations leaders have made a dramatic Federal Election campaign plea for urgent funding to help fix the worsening housing crisis in the state’s remote communities.
In an open letter to all political parties contesting the May 3 poll, prominent Indigenous council mayors have warned that the health and liveability of their communities are being devastated by chronic, decades-long overcrowding.
Lockhart River Aboriginal Shire Council Mayor Wayne Butcher, Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council Mayor Territa Dick and Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council Mayor Alf Lacey said remote areas of the state were “crying out” for safe, affordable and adequate housing.
In many places, multiple generations were living under one roof. “We watch as overcrowding worsens health outcomes and makes school and study near impossible,” the mayors said in the letter which can be read here.
The mayors’ call for First Nation housing funding commitments from both sides of politics is part of a major drive by the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) for fairer funding for its 77 member councils.
Mayor of Lockhart River Aboriginal Shire Council Wayne Butcher said Queensland’s indigenous communities were being starved of Commonwealth funding for housing. “There needs to be some urgent investment,” he said.
Mayor of Hopevale Aboriginal Shire Council Bruce Gibson said his community needed “60 houses tomorrow” to properly address local homelessness. However, building and growing the community was also being constrained by a lack of adequate electricity supply to Hopevale.
Mayor of Pormpuraaw Aboriginal Shire Council Ralph Kendall said housing was “the biggest issue for all of us here on Cape York.” He said overcrowding adversely impacted local health and education. “Kids need to have a decent night’s sleep to have that focus to go to school the next day,” he said.
Mayor of Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council Alf Lacey said Queenslanders were asking to get their fair share of funding, particularly for trunk infrastructure and community housing.
“Whether we live in an Aboriginal community or a mainstream community – when you have good, affordable housing, community health and the well-being and liveability of our community will change (for the better)…it’s important that all sides of politics listen to why housing is so vital.”
“In First Nations communities, overcrowding is plaguing our communities. We’re always in catch-up mode.”
Mayor of Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council Alister Gibson said overcrowding was an issue in all First Nations communities.
“It's hard for our younger ones to study,” he said. “They are waking up and not attending school. We need to get more land and build more houses.”
LGAQ President Mayor Matt Burnett said all 77 councils across Queensland were in support of the request for funding to address overcrowding.
“As a sector we stand united behind the critical Federal Election ask because this funding must flow to ensure local communities are not left behind,” Mayor Burnett said.
LGAQ CEO Alison Smith said the funding sought would support Queensland’s remote and discreet First Nations communities as well as overcrowding in First Nations communities in other rural and remote parts of Queensland.
“Overcrowding in discrete First Nations communities has increased in Queensland since the end of the National Partnership Agreement on Remote Indigenous Housing (NPARIH) in 2018,” Ms Smith said.
“The need for new funding to both secure developable land and to build new homes is absolutely critical.”
The LGAQ campaign for fairer funding includes a suite of measures to support Queensland communities and deliver a $73.8 billion boost to the State’s economy as well as create more than 105,000 jobs.
In particular, the campaign identifies the lack of Indigenous housing as a key concern and calls on the Federal Government to address overcrowding and support economic development in remote and discrete communities.
More detail can be found at www.dontleaveusinthe70s.com.au.
For more information, please contact:
Michael Prain, Media Executive
Phone: (07) 3000 2275
Local Government Association of Queensland