A third Aboriginal community has joined a unique legal action against the Northern Territory government over the state of its housing. The community claims that the government has failed to fulfil its maintenance obligations.
According to Sun Times, Larapinta is one of the 18 town camps on the outskirts of Alice Springs. The residents of the town have formally given notice to the NT department of the housing of the 160 emergency repairs which have not been fixed.
The locals claimed that they had been waiting up to one year for the repairs of the housing. The department has a responsibility to make sure that the repairs are done within the maximum scheduled time of 14 days, under the tenancy legislation.
The Guardian reported that the action taken by the residents of Larapinta to join in the legal action has also already been taken by two other remote communities. In fact, Santa Teresa, which is approximately 80 km from Alice Springs, and Papunya, which is around 240 km Northwest of Alice Springs, now take their claims before NTCAT for more than 900 repair requests that have not yet been passed.
The residents are being represented by a pro bono legal group. The Australian Lawyers for Remote Aboriginal Rights Ltd, and the Central Australian Aboriginal Service are to represent them.
Katie Gordon, who belongs to one of the lawyers ready to represent the tenants, stated they had gathered evidence from tenants in the past, as claimed by ABC NEWS. However, the Department of Housing and the company contracted to look after the repairs acted prior to the actions of the lawyers that are further needed regarding such matters. NT Minister for Housing Bess Price even claimed that her department was "actively working with the contractor to action and finalise all outstanding works as soon as possible".
Meanwhile, if the NT department fails to complete the repairs within the required timeframe, the tenants can give allegations with the NT Civil Administration Tribunal. The local people of Papunya and Santa Teresa will have their cases heard by the NCAT in the upcoming weeks.
