The investment - which is part of the Federal Government’s Stronger Future package - aims at improving basic essential and municipal services in Aboriginal communities across the NT.

The Australian Government has committed to maintaining its funding for a further ten years providing ongoing certainty for Aboriginal people living on outstations and homelands.

The investment will provide support to supply outstations and homelands with access to power, water and sewerage and road maintenance as well as garbage collection, dog control programs and operational costs for organisations that provide municipal and essential services.

Northern Land Council Chief Executive Kim Hill has welcomed this morning’s announcement by Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin that will see a $221 million investment in Northern Territory outstations and homelands over the next ten years.

Mr Hill said the preservation of homeland communities was integral to ending Aboriginal disadvantage in the Northern Territory.

“The evidence is indisputable - outstation life provides better health outcomes, allowing people to live longer,” Mr Hill said.

“The last thing we want is funding ceased and Aboriginal peoples forced off their traditional lands and into growth towns which would undoubtedly lead to more dysfunction and more disadvantage.”

While Mr Hill welcomed the funding, he said additional commitments would be needed to address the over-crowding issues in these remote regional areas.

“It is disappointing both the Federal and Territory Governments have ruled out extra housing for outstations and we see this as a significant problem.”

Mr Hill also expressed his disappointment that the Territory Government would only be contributing $1.5m annually toward the package.

Shadow Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Senator Nigel Scullion, said the funding showed Government was “clueless on real action to help end Aboriginal disadvantage”.

“That is $22million every year and, according to the government’s own figures, that is $2333 per person for the 9,000 people in the 500 homelands and outstations in the Territory,” he said.

“That is $42,000 per homeland each year – some of these outstations have 100 houses and no power.

“The government has been providing funding to the NT Government to pay for these services since 2007 and nothing has changed in these communities.

“There is very little to show ... in communities that deserve much better.”?

NT?Minister for Indigenous Development, Malarndirri McCarthy said the NT Government had “always supported and recognised the importance of outstations”.

“(The)?announcement provides long-term certainty and clarity for ... residents about the type of support available ... over the next 10 years,”?she said.