Darwin homeless shelter closure condemned as callous

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Oct, 01:32 · Archive

Australia's Indigenous minister says closure of a 300-bed Darwin homeless shelter could drive vulnerable people into dangerous situations.

A federal minister has condemned the closure of Darwin's YiSSA Homeless and Short Stay Facility, which housed around 300 people, as callous and potentially fatal. Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy told parliament that the decision is casting vulnerable people back onto the streets or forcing them into unsafe situations. She alleged that some have returned to violent partners or remote communities where they cannot access necessary medical care such as dialysis.

The Northern Territory's Country Liberal Party government rejected a $3.5 million federal funding offer to keep the facility open. Instead, the government is proceeding with a plan to relocate residents to a new shelter in Batchelor, a town 100 kilometres south of Darwin. Senator McCarthy said Batchelor is a small community of 500 people with limited policing, no public bus service, and where a taxi to Darwin costs hundreds of dollars. Only about 30 of the hundreds of people housed at YiSSA agreed to move to the new $18 million facility.

NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro defended the relocation, saying the YiSSA facility was a waste of money.

How it is being reported

• 'Heartless' homeless shelter closure condemnedThe closure of a homeless shelter has been slammed as "callous and heartless" by a federal minister, who says the decision could prove fatal.Perth Now · 14 Oct, 00:57
• 'Heartless' homeless shelter closure condemnedThe closure of a homeless shelter has been slammed as "callous and heartless" by a federal minister, who says the decision could prove fatal.The West Australian · 14 Oct, 00:57

In this story: Malarndirri McCarthy · Lia Finocchiaro · Darwin · Batchelor · Northern Territory · YiSSA Homeless and Short Stay Facility

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