NT Budget Fails to Make Seniors’ Housing a Priority

7 May 2021

We need safe, secure and affordable options for older Territorians

Sue Shearer, CEO of COTA NT the peak advocacy organisation for NT Seniors, is disappointed that the Northern Territory’s 2021/22 budget does not contain any funding for seniors’ housing
– and more specifically – retirement villages for Territory seniors who need safe, secure and affordable housing options as they age.

“In 2016, an election promise was made by the present Labour Government to seniors in Batchelor that a retirement village would be built. It is now 2021 and there is nothing in the pipeline at all. This government wants to retain and attract seniors to the Northern Territory, but seniors want choice and affordability, not broken promises,” said Shearer.

“Expression of Interests were sought for the development of lifestyle retirement villages in Alice Springs and Darwin, but again to no avail. This is a costly exercise for private industry, and as proposals was deemed to not be cost effective by government, these projects were canned. We ask, “What is cost effective?” To have seniors leave our regions in droves because of escalating safety issues and not enough choice for their retirement? That would not be at all “cost effective.”

“We urge the NT Government to make seniors’ housing a priority. Seniors contribute enormously to the social and economic fabric of the Territory. We have to ensure that as they age, they have safe, secure and affordable options for a roof over their heads.”

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Media Contact: Sue Shearer 0408 987 751
Available as a PDF: NT Budget Fails to Make Seniors’ Housing a Priority – 7 May 2021
Also published on COTA NT Media Releases