❓ Mr. Grylls raises concerns about overcrowding in Halls Creek and proposes purchasing land from the Mardiwah Loop estate to address Indigenous housing shortages. Minister Roberts expresses willingness to consider the proposal, highlighting the need for housing management plans and rent collection.
AnsweredQoN 287Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HALLS CREEK — MARDIWAH LOOP ESTATE
Given that it is now more than two and a half years since the dangerous house overcrowding situation at Halls Creek was publicly exposed and the crisis remains unresolved, I ask — (1) Given the chronic land shortage at Halls Creek, does the minister concede that the Mardiwah Loop estate, a fully serviced development of some 80 hectares, with only 35 houses, is a major opportunity to overcome the town’s Indigenous housing shortage? (2) Would the government be prepared to purchase part of the Mardiwah Loop estate from the traditional owners, therefore creating a housing trust fund for the community to build more houses on the remaining lots? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS
Given that it is now more than two and a half years since the dangerous house overcrowding situation at Halls Creek was publicly exposed and the crisis remains unresolved, I ask — (1) Given the chronic land shortage at Halls Creek, does the minister concede that the Mardiwah Loop estate, a fully serviced development of some 80 hectares, with only 35 houses, is a major opportunity to overcome the town’s Indigenous housing shortage? (2) Would the government be prepared to purchase part of the Mardiwah Loop estate from the traditional owners, therefore creating a housing trust fund for the community to build more houses on the remaining lots? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) I am more than happy to consider the suggestion contained in the second part of the member’s question. Members would be aware, as I am sure the Leader of the National Party is aware, that Mardiwah Loop has been a particular issue. The Mardiwah Loop estate is not on land owned by the government and nor is it a place where we have had traditional public housing, as in Homeswest housing. It is an Aboriginal community. One of the requirements set by the former federal government, which is being adhered to by the current federal government, is that we have housing management plans in place. Again, this matter was highlighted by Alistair Hope in his recent coronial inquiry. He said that there is no point in just providing housing if there is no care or maintenance of housing or a regime by which rent is collected. This is a requirement and it is a way in which we are moving. The other communities surrounding Halls Creek have signed up to management agreements. I am hopeful that we are about to sign up to an agreement with the Mardiwah Loop estate soon. I hope that we can do that, because we need to make sure that rent collection is in place and that provision is made for the care and management of houses once they are constructed. The concept of us purchasing some land from Mardiwah Loop is a new one, but I am more than prepared to see it investigated.
(1) Given the chronic land shortage at Halls Creek, does the minister concede that the Mardiwah Loop estate, a fully serviced development of some 80 hectares, with only 35 houses, is a major opportunity to overcome the town’s Indigenous housing shortage? (2) Would the government be prepared to purchase part of the Mardiwah Loop estate from the traditional owners, therefore creating a housing trust fund for the community to build more houses on the remaining lots? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) I am more than happy to consider the suggestion contained in the second part of the member’s question. Members would be aware, as I am sure the Leader of the National Party is aware, that Mardiwah Loop has been a particular issue. The Mardiwah Loop estate is not on land owned by the government and nor is it a place where we have had traditional public housing, as in Homeswest housing. It is an Aboriginal community. One of the requirements set by the former federal government, which is being adhered to by the current federal government, is that we have housing management plans in place. Again, this matter was highlighted by Alistair Hope in his recent coronial inquiry. He said that there is no point in just providing housing if there is no care or maintenance of housing or a regime by which rent is collected. This is a requirement and it is a way in which we are moving. The other communities surrounding Halls Creek have signed up to management agreements. I am hopeful that we are about to sign up to an agreement with the Mardiwah Loop estate soon. I hope that we can do that, because we need to make sure that rent collection is in place and that provision is made for the care and management of houses once they are constructed. The concept of us purchasing some land from Mardiwah Loop is a new one, but I am more than prepared to see it investigated.
(2) Would the government be prepared to purchase part of the Mardiwah Loop estate from the traditional owners, therefore creating a housing trust fund for the community to build more houses on the remaining lots? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) I am more than happy to consider the suggestion contained in the second part of the member’s question. Members would be aware, as I am sure the Leader of the National Party is aware, that Mardiwah Loop has been a particular issue. The Mardiwah Loop estate is not on land owned by the government and nor is it a place where we have had traditional public housing, as in Homeswest housing. It is an Aboriginal community. One of the requirements set by the former federal government, which is being adhered to by the current federal government, is that we have housing management plans in place. Again, this matter was highlighted by Alistair Hope in his recent coronial inquiry. He said that there is no point in just providing housing if there is no care or maintenance of housing or a regime by which rent is collected. This is a requirement and it is a way in which we are moving. The other communities surrounding Halls Creek have signed up to management agreements. I am hopeful that we are about to sign up to an agreement with the Mardiwah Loop estate soon. I hope that we can do that, because we need to make sure that rent collection is in place and that provision is made for the care and management of houses once they are constructed. The concept of us purchasing some land from Mardiwah Loop is a new one, but I am more than prepared to see it investigated.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) I am more than happy to consider the suggestion contained in the second part of the member’s question. Members would be aware, as I am sure the Leader of the National Party is aware, that Mardiwah Loop has been a particular issue. The Mardiwah Loop estate is not on land owned by the government and nor is it a place where we have had traditional public housing, as in Homeswest housing. It is an Aboriginal community. One of the requirements set by the former federal government, which is being adhered to by the current federal government, is that we have housing management plans in place. Again, this matter was highlighted by Alistair Hope in his recent coronial inquiry. He said that there is no point in just providing housing if there is no care or maintenance of housing or a regime by which rent is collected. This is a requirement and it is a way in which we are moving. The other communities surrounding Halls Creek have signed up to management agreements. I am hopeful that we are about to sign up to an agreement with the Mardiwah Loop estate soon. I hope that we can do that, because we need to make sure that rent collection is in place and that provision is made for the care and management of houses once they are constructed. The concept of us purchasing some land from Mardiwah Loop is a new one, but I am more than prepared to see it investigated.
(1)-(2) I am more than happy to consider the suggestion contained in the second part of the member’s question. Members would be aware, as I am sure the Leader of the National Party is aware, that Mardiwah Loop has been a particular issue. The Mardiwah Loop estate is not on land owned by the government and nor is it a place where we have had traditional public housing, as in Homeswest housing. It is an Aboriginal community. One of the requirements set by the former federal government, which is being adhered to by the current federal government, is that we have housing management plans in place. Again, this matter was highlighted by Alistair Hope in his recent coronial inquiry. He said that there is no point in just providing housing if there is no care or maintenance of housing or a regime by which rent is collected. This is a requirement and it is a way in which we are moving. The other communities surrounding Halls Creek have signed up to management agreements. I am hopeful that we are about to sign up to an agreement with the Mardiwah Loop estate soon. I hope that we can do that, because we need to make sure that rent collection is in place and that provision is made for the care and management of houses once they are constructed. The concept of us purchasing some land from Mardiwah Loop is a new one, but I am more than prepared to see it investigated.
(1) Given the chronic land shortage at Halls Creek, does the minister concede that the Mardiwah Loop estate, a fully serviced development of some 80 hectares, with only 35 houses, is a major opportunity to overcome the town’s Indigenous housing shortage? (2) Would the government be prepared to purchase part of the Mardiwah Loop estate from the traditional owners, therefore creating a housing trust fund for the community to build more houses on the remaining lots? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) I am more than happy to consider the suggestion contained in the second part of the member’s question. Members would be aware, as I am sure the Leader of the National Party is aware, that Mardiwah Loop has been a particular issue. The Mardiwah Loop estate is not on land owned by the government and nor is it a place where we have had traditional public housing, as in Homeswest housing. It is an Aboriginal community. One of the requirements set by the former federal government, which is being adhered to by the current federal government, is that we have housing management plans in place. Again, this matter was highlighted by Alistair Hope in his recent coronial inquiry. He said that there is no point in just providing housing if there is no care or maintenance of housing or a regime by which rent is collected. This is a requirement and it is a way in which we are moving. The other communities surrounding Halls Creek have signed up to management agreements. I am hopeful that we are about to sign up to an agreement with the Mardiwah Loop estate soon. I hope that we can do that, because we need to make sure that rent collection is in place and that provision is made for the care and management of houses once they are constructed. The concept of us purchasing some land from Mardiwah Loop is a new one, but I am more than prepared to see it investigated.
(2) Would the government be prepared to purchase part of the Mardiwah Loop estate from the traditional owners, therefore creating a housing trust fund for the community to build more houses on the remaining lots? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) I am more than happy to consider the suggestion contained in the second part of the member’s question. Members would be aware, as I am sure the Leader of the National Party is aware, that Mardiwah Loop has been a particular issue. The Mardiwah Loop estate is not on land owned by the government and nor is it a place where we have had traditional public housing, as in Homeswest housing. It is an Aboriginal community. One of the requirements set by the former federal government, which is being adhered to by the current federal government, is that we have housing management plans in place. Again, this matter was highlighted by Alistair Hope in his recent coronial inquiry. He said that there is no point in just providing housing if there is no care or maintenance of housing or a regime by which rent is collected. This is a requirement and it is a way in which we are moving. The other communities surrounding Halls Creek have signed up to management agreements. I am hopeful that we are about to sign up to an agreement with the Mardiwah Loop estate soon. I hope that we can do that, because we need to make sure that rent collection is in place and that provision is made for the care and management of houses once they are constructed. The concept of us purchasing some land from Mardiwah Loop is a new one, but I am more than prepared to see it investigated.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) I am more than happy to consider the suggestion contained in the second part of the member’s question. Members would be aware, as I am sure the Leader of the National Party is aware, that Mardiwah Loop has been a particular issue. The Mardiwah Loop estate is not on land owned by the government and nor is it a place where we have had traditional public housing, as in Homeswest housing. It is an Aboriginal community. One of the requirements set by the former federal government, which is being adhered to by the current federal government, is that we have housing management plans in place. Again, this matter was highlighted by Alistair Hope in his recent coronial inquiry. He said that there is no point in just providing housing if there is no care or maintenance of housing or a regime by which rent is collected. This is a requirement and it is a way in which we are moving. The other communities surrounding Halls Creek have signed up to management agreements. I am hopeful that we are about to sign up to an agreement with the Mardiwah Loop estate soon. I hope that we can do that, because we need to make sure that rent collection is in place and that provision is made for the care and management of houses once they are constructed. The concept of us purchasing some land from Mardiwah Loop is a new one, but I am more than prepared to see it investigated.
(1)-(2) I am more than happy to consider the suggestion contained in the second part of the member’s question. Members would be aware, as I am sure the Leader of the National Party is aware, that Mardiwah Loop has been a particular issue. The Mardiwah Loop estate is not on land owned by the government and nor is it a place where we have had traditional public housing, as in Homeswest housing. It is an Aboriginal community. One of the requirements set by the former federal government, which is being adhered to by the current federal government, is that we have housing management plans in place. Again, this matter was highlighted by Alistair Hope in his recent coronial inquiry. He said that there is no point in just providing housing if there is no care or maintenance of housing or a regime by which rent is collected. This is a requirement and it is a way in which we are moving. The other communities surrounding Halls Creek have signed up to management agreements. I am hopeful that we are about to sign up to an agreement with the Mardiwah Loop estate soon. I hope that we can do that, because we need to make sure that rent collection is in place and that provision is made for the care and management of houses once they are constructed. The concept of us purchasing some land from Mardiwah Loop is a new one, but I am more than prepared to see it investigated.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.