The Wire

A new report published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health points to basic problems with indigenous housing. Tony Abbott says that indigenous housing is poor quality but, quote, “There’s also no doubt that there’s many indigenous people who don’t respect the housing they have.” The reports authors say this is a common myth, and that their data shows it’s actually faulty equipment and poor maintenance that causes these problems. The Rudd government has highlighted housing as the first step to closing the life expectancy gap between indigenous and non- indigenous Australia.