1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:02,920 Speaker 1: We heard last week that the Northern Territory government had 2 00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:07,160 Speaker 1: announced the Northern Territory Housing Alliance was last week established 3 00:00:07,400 --> 00:00:10,280 Speaker 1: following calls from industry to set up an advisory body 4 00:00:10,320 --> 00:00:14,560 Speaker 1: to address the challenges facing Territorians when it comes to housing. Now, 5 00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:18,159 Speaker 1: discussion around the Alliance first started after we'd spoken to 6 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:20,960 Speaker 1: the Chief Minister Natasha Files on the show quite a 7 00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:24,720 Speaker 1: while back and she had said that federal funding was 8 00:00:24,760 --> 00:00:28,200 Speaker 1: going to see eleven thousand new homes built in the 9 00:00:28,240 --> 00:00:31,680 Speaker 1: Northern Territory. Now the number led many to question how 10 00:00:31,760 --> 00:00:34,120 Speaker 1: on earth it was going to happen. But joining me 11 00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:37,559 Speaker 1: on the line is the chair of the new Housing Alliance, 12 00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:38,320 Speaker 1: Alan McGill. 13 00:00:38,360 --> 00:00:41,200 Speaker 2: Good morning, Allan, Good morning Katie. 14 00:00:41,400 --> 00:00:44,200 Speaker 1: Now, Allan, what will be the aim of the alliance? 15 00:00:46,120 --> 00:00:48,239 Speaker 2: It's got in terms of reference, it's really trying to 16 00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:52,040 Speaker 2: work out how we can ensure that those houses are 17 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:56,920 Speaker 2: do get built. So the National Housing Accord which sets 18 00:00:56,920 --> 00:01:01,000 Speaker 2: out the national targets for housing as a Northern Territory 19 00:01:01,000 --> 00:01:05,160 Speaker 2: housing strategy, and then funding wise is the Housing Australia 20 00:01:05,240 --> 00:01:08,839 Speaker 2: Future Fun and another one called the Social and Affordable 21 00:01:08,840 --> 00:01:12,200 Speaker 2: Housing Fund. So they're the funding opportunities. But how do 22 00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:18,600 Speaker 2: we actually deliver those houses. Yeah, that's like availability of land, 23 00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:21,520 Speaker 2: the capacity of industry actually to do the work, those 24 00:01:21,560 --> 00:01:24,440 Speaker 2: sort of things. So the Alliance has been asked to 25 00:01:24,480 --> 00:01:26,960 Speaker 2: look at all that to see how we can recommend 26 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:29,520 Speaker 2: or give advice to the government and how to streamline 27 00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:32,800 Speaker 2: things and make it easier to get those houses. 28 00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:35,039 Speaker 1: Built all and it sounds like there's a lot of 29 00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:38,639 Speaker 1: different pots of money that potentially the Northern Territory government 30 00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:41,640 Speaker 1: government is able to access to build homes and we 31 00:01:42,080 --> 00:01:46,240 Speaker 1: certainly need them. Just in terms of the alliance, what 32 00:01:46,319 --> 00:01:48,520 Speaker 1: kind of industry groups are going to be on the 33 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:50,720 Speaker 1: alliance and how it work. 34 00:01:52,040 --> 00:01:56,640 Speaker 2: Good question. My understanding is that the original ideas I 35 00:01:56,680 --> 00:01:59,400 Speaker 2: mentioned a moment ago came from industry and in particular 36 00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:02,520 Speaker 2: the Property Counsel, who suggested that some sort of mechanism 37 00:02:02,600 --> 00:02:05,720 Speaker 2: like this would be useful in trying to work out 38 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:08,760 Speaker 2: what the challenges and opportunities are. There is a list 39 00:02:08,880 --> 00:02:13,960 Speaker 2: I think key key organizations like the Master Builders and 40 00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:17,600 Speaker 2: Property Council and a number of other organizations involved in 41 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:21,520 Speaker 2: social housing and in housing. They all, I think are 42 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:25,040 Speaker 2: being invited to nominate the representatives. My understanding is those 43 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:27,640 Speaker 2: letters have only gone out in the last day or so, 44 00:02:27,639 --> 00:02:32,520 Speaker 2: so once we get the nominations, hopefully that the Alliance 45 00:02:32,520 --> 00:02:34,400 Speaker 2: can have a meeting some sime shortly in the next 46 00:02:34,440 --> 00:02:37,000 Speaker 2: week or so to work out what our plan will be, 47 00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:38,920 Speaker 2: how we want to deal with this and you know 48 00:02:39,120 --> 00:02:42,560 Speaker 2: what things we need to at the moment because we 49 00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:45,840 Speaker 2: don't have all the membership yet. I'm collecting information so 50 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:50,480 Speaker 2: there's a good resource of material, not to redo things, 51 00:02:50,480 --> 00:02:53,919 Speaker 2: but to have information so the Alliance can start with 52 00:02:53,919 --> 00:02:56,440 Speaker 2: with all the informations available well. 53 00:02:56,480 --> 00:02:58,840 Speaker 1: And it's one of those things where we know there's 54 00:02:58,840 --> 00:03:01,480 Speaker 1: been some really serious cancerns raised with housing in the 55 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:04,520 Speaker 1: Northern Territory. It's something we've spoken at lengths about previously 56 00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:08,359 Speaker 1: with Peter McMillan from NT Shelter and not just sort 57 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:12,640 Speaker 1: of you know, not just public housing or territory government housing, 58 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:18,519 Speaker 1: but also housing for workers, social housing. These are all 59 00:03:18,560 --> 00:03:21,160 Speaker 1: different areas where a lot of people want to see 60 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:23,840 Speaker 1: some movement because I guess it means that it does 61 00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:26,799 Speaker 1: make it more affordable for territories right across the board. 62 00:03:28,520 --> 00:03:30,919 Speaker 2: It does, and that whole question of affordability is really 63 00:03:30,960 --> 00:03:34,720 Speaker 2: the bottom line, isn't that whether you're in social housing 64 00:03:34,840 --> 00:03:38,760 Speaker 2: or affordable housing or in the open market. Affordable housing 65 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:42,520 Speaker 2: is a challenge. Rents are high for people on lower 66 00:03:42,520 --> 00:03:45,720 Speaker 2: incomes buying a house, buying in a house that's affordable. 67 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:48,560 Speaker 2: There's another challenge how I don't know the answers, but 68 00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:52,120 Speaker 2: hopefully industry can get together and give them solid advice 69 00:03:52,160 --> 00:03:55,360 Speaker 2: on how to improve things. I think everyone realizes housing 70 00:03:55,400 --> 00:04:00,160 Speaker 2: is an issue. If we achieve increases in population, we 71 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:02,680 Speaker 2: need to make sure that the supply of housing is 72 00:04:03,640 --> 00:04:06,400 Speaker 2: in a timely manner and also offers a range of 73 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:10,560 Speaker 2: different types of housing. The diverse population people looking for 74 00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:13,480 Speaker 2: different things in price range as well as the type 75 00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:16,040 Speaker 2: of houses. So lots of questions. 76 00:04:16,120 --> 00:04:18,760 Speaker 1: There certainly is, and I mean even last week master 77 00:04:18,800 --> 00:04:20,719 Speaker 1: builders coming out saying that there's going to be a 78 00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:23,120 Speaker 1: huge defense spend and that there's going to be all 79 00:04:23,120 --> 00:04:25,800 Speaker 1: these jobs created. But the first thing people are wondering 80 00:04:25,880 --> 00:04:27,440 Speaker 1: is where are they going to live? 81 00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:32,039 Speaker 2: Exactly? Yeah, no, that is a really good question. My 82 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:36,960 Speaker 2: understanding I haven't got this is of the construction industry 83 00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:39,560 Speaker 2: at the moment, about half of the workers are flying 84 00:04:39,640 --> 00:04:42,920 Speaker 2: fly out at the moment. Suddenly, if we were to 85 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:46,560 Speaker 2: take on a whole lot of extra construction work like 86 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:48,760 Speaker 2: houses or other things that are coming out of defense. 87 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:51,719 Speaker 2: Where are those workers going to live? I think ideally 88 00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:53,599 Speaker 2: we would like those workers to move to the Northern 89 00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:56,320 Speaker 2: Territory and live here. So where do they get their 90 00:04:56,320 --> 00:04:57,240 Speaker 2: houses to do that? 91 00:04:58,040 --> 00:05:00,240 Speaker 1: Well? Alan One of the other questions that people have 92 00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:04,240 Speaker 1: been asking, is this housing alliance going to be costing 93 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:07,640 Speaker 1: the taxpayers any money? Or is this literally just an 94 00:05:07,640 --> 00:05:11,679 Speaker 1: alliance that is formed up, you know, by different industry 95 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:13,680 Speaker 1: groups to try and make this work. 96 00:05:15,279 --> 00:05:19,680 Speaker 2: I assume it's the latter. I think a couple of 97 00:05:19,760 --> 00:05:23,800 Speaker 2: questions I've had indicated that perhaps as the chairman I'm 98 00:05:23,880 --> 00:05:28,400 Speaker 2: on some sort of large salary. That's not the case paid. 99 00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:30,800 Speaker 2: I get paid, and I think other members of the 100 00:05:30,839 --> 00:05:34,080 Speaker 2: alliance who would be eligible will get paid a meeting fee, 101 00:05:34,600 --> 00:05:38,560 Speaker 2: which is set down in legislation for all sorts of 102 00:05:38,720 --> 00:05:42,960 Speaker 2: committees and organizations that are set up for the government 103 00:05:42,960 --> 00:05:45,279 Speaker 2: to give advice. So it's a meeting fee, not a 104 00:05:45,279 --> 00:05:48,440 Speaker 2: salary or anything else. So I assume it's a low 105 00:05:48,480 --> 00:05:51,200 Speaker 2: cost to the government in the scheme of things. 106 00:05:51,560 --> 00:05:54,159 Speaker 1: And like, is the government do you think setting this 107 00:05:54,240 --> 00:05:57,080 Speaker 1: alliance up to sort of to have a fall guy 108 00:05:57,200 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 1: if things don't actually work out and they're not able 109 00:05:59,920 --> 00:06:02,320 Speaker 1: to deliver the number of houses that you know that 110 00:06:02,360 --> 00:06:03,760 Speaker 1: they're saying they want to achieve. 111 00:06:05,400 --> 00:06:08,640 Speaker 2: I'm not sure. I'm looking at positively that they'd want 112 00:06:08,640 --> 00:06:11,120 Speaker 2: to get advice on how they can deliver it. So 113 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:13,480 Speaker 2: hopefully industry will have some good ideas and we can 114 00:06:13,520 --> 00:06:16,599 Speaker 2: come up with us some recommendations to the government in 115 00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:17,360 Speaker 2: the near future. 116 00:06:17,600 --> 00:06:20,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, because it is so incredibly important. You know, when 117 00:06:20,320 --> 00:06:22,920 Speaker 1: you look at housing, when you look at attracting workforce 118 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:25,160 Speaker 1: to the Northern Territory, but even when you look at 119 00:06:25,640 --> 00:06:29,560 Speaker 1: retaining people in the Northern Territory and boosting that population, 120 00:06:29,640 --> 00:06:32,320 Speaker 1: if you don't have somewhere affordable to live, it makes 121 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:33,400 Speaker 1: it really difficult. 122 00:06:34,680 --> 00:06:38,800 Speaker 2: It does. That, absolutely does. And so I'm sure that 123 00:06:38,839 --> 00:06:42,240 Speaker 2: the government is hoping to increase the population. I think 124 00:06:42,279 --> 00:06:45,320 Speaker 2: we all are. The population of territory will grow, but 125 00:06:45,560 --> 00:06:48,120 Speaker 2: you've got to have that basic thing, jobs and accommodation, 126 00:06:49,240 --> 00:06:52,280 Speaker 2: and at the moment the accommodation is a problem. 127 00:06:52,360 --> 00:06:56,760 Speaker 1: Yeah. Well, NT Housing Alliance Chair Alan macguil I appreciate 128 00:06:56,760 --> 00:06:59,320 Speaker 1: your time. Do you have any idea when that first 129 00:06:59,320 --> 00:07:00,240 Speaker 1: meeting is going to happen. 130 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:04,039 Speaker 2: I'm hoping it will be next week. That's if the 131 00:07:04,160 --> 00:07:08,000 Speaker 2: organizations who have been invite to nominate get back and 132 00:07:08,040 --> 00:07:10,640 Speaker 2: get them people are appointed. But in the meantime, I'm 133 00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:14,120 Speaker 2: working with other government departments, as I said, to collect 134 00:07:14,400 --> 00:07:17,000 Speaker 2: as much information as I can about the availability of 135 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:21,120 Speaker 2: land and all those sorts of reports that have already 136 00:07:21,120 --> 00:07:23,680 Speaker 2: been around the place. I report to Dick deut last 137 00:07:23,760 --> 00:07:27,400 Speaker 2: year earlier this year, for example, what information is there 138 00:07:27,440 --> 00:07:31,080 Speaker 2: that sets out the scene, and where is the funding 139 00:07:31,120 --> 00:07:33,920 Speaker 2: coming from and what are those funding agencies expecting. 140 00:07:34,960 --> 00:07:37,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, and also like you said, where is that land? 141 00:07:37,960 --> 00:07:40,360 Speaker 1: Where are we actually going to be able to build 142 00:07:40,400 --> 00:07:43,200 Speaker 1: those homes? If you know, if there is new homes 143 00:07:43,200 --> 00:07:44,440 Speaker 1: to be built, where are they going to go? 144 00:07:46,400 --> 00:07:50,080 Speaker 2: That's right, availability of lands. So suggestions, you know, like 145 00:07:50,720 --> 00:07:53,400 Speaker 2: what about those large blocks in some of the suburbs 146 00:07:53,400 --> 00:07:56,040 Speaker 2: that are a thousand square amount of blocks or something 147 00:07:56,040 --> 00:07:59,760 Speaker 2: that perhaps they can be redeveloped or that's all those 148 00:07:59,760 --> 00:08:02,440 Speaker 2: sorts the things should be on the table for ensuring 149 00:08:02,440 --> 00:08:06,440 Speaker 2: that the supply of land is there. It's also, like 150 00:08:06,440 --> 00:08:09,800 Speaker 2: you said earlier, the industry's capacity to actually do the work, 151 00:08:11,640 --> 00:08:14,280 Speaker 2: the capability of industry to provide the materials in the 152 00:08:14,320 --> 00:08:18,760 Speaker 2: timely manner. Also government approvals processes that perhaps to be 153 00:08:18,800 --> 00:08:22,480 Speaker 2: fast tracked or improved. Things like that I hope will 154 00:08:22,520 --> 00:08:24,400 Speaker 2: be all part of the discussion we have early on. 155 00:08:24,680 --> 00:08:27,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, I hope so, because I know when I first 156 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:29,360 Speaker 1: heard the chiefmentes is to say, you know, eleven thousand 157 00:08:29,440 --> 00:08:32,400 Speaker 1: homes over five years, everybody was sort of scratching their heads, 158 00:08:32,440 --> 00:08:34,280 Speaker 1: thinking how are we going to do this? But the 159 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:37,200 Speaker 1: fact is we actually want this to happen. We want 160 00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:39,360 Speaker 1: those homes to be built. So if there is a 161 00:08:39,400 --> 00:08:42,120 Speaker 1: way that we can bring industry together, bring everybody together 162 00:08:42,200 --> 00:08:44,200 Speaker 1: to ensure that it does happen, that can only be 163 00:08:44,200 --> 00:08:44,880 Speaker 1: a good thing. 164 00:08:45,800 --> 00:08:47,920 Speaker 2: I hope. So, yeah, I agree with you. 165 00:08:48,120 --> 00:08:50,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, Alan Miguil, really good to talk to you 166 00:08:50,520 --> 00:08:52,679 Speaker 1: this morning. I appreciate your time. Thanks for having a 167 00:08:52,760 --> 00:08:53,200 Speaker 1: chat with me. 168 00:08:54,280 --> 00:08:55,880 Speaker 2: Thanks very much, Ka, thank you.