There has been a lot of talk in the media of late about the lack of housing in aboriginal communities in the NT.

Saw a couple of letters in the Aus this morning that, to me, have merrit.

I have no ideas as to who the writers are or their expertise, but I have seen some pretty good transportable homes and even brick vaneer.

http://blogs.theaustralian.news.com.au/letters/index.php/theaustralian/comments/the_vested_interests_in_failure_are_just_too_powerful/

Anyone on OLO care to comment?

I guarantee that self righteous know it alls will label anyone telling the truth on these matters as racist.

Banjo,
Good if huge topic.
I think the problem is a symptom of a greater malaise.
Belly and I alluded to it is previous discussions the problem is as I understand it multi layered.
Simply providing houses to be neglected or trashed is an exercise in futility. A bit like giving a person with a brain tumour codeine tablets alone.

My contact in this area clearly showed that the standard whitey style house ignores kinship and cultural issues.

One experiment I know of in PNG and in Adelaide that seemed to work was to build a "long house" which better accommodated their cultural 'one talk' kinship needs.
Setting the right authority structures was a second issue. Combating the 'cargo' mentality is another (free lunch concept)
One needs to fully understand the tribal culture in that under this system there are no bludgers every one has responsibilities to their family clan etc.Everyone had a personal place.
Western concepts have destroyed the inclusive/cohesiveness and replaced it with selfishness, a 'benevolent' government, petty jealousies and anonymity to the system. All without their cultural means of release/control/authorities, sense of personal dignity etc.
the list goes on.
I fear until we resolve the basic problems all the causal issues will continue.
The conflict is one of our arrogant making. the key question is what do we do? Is the victim mentality and the whitey's basic lack of understanding (and ignorant belligerence on both sides too entrenched?)
Creating a 'coconut' brown on the outside with the worst of the white isn't it.
I would suggest real acceptance/accommodation as opposed to guilt money and latent resentment would be a good place to start

Dear Banjo,
God created man to Tend his garden and that means meaningful work. Being married to an indigionis lady who loves the Lord and knows the value of Gods word she understands why verses like idle hands make much mischief and my people perish from lack of knowledge are in his word. Noel Pearson as a Lutheren was brought up on a steady diet of Gods word and is realising it is still true no matter what the world choses to believe. My father died a very disolusioned man for he trusted his beloved Labor Party and Whitlam Borrowed and set this country on the road to inflation to pay back the debt and dad's life savings became valueless as he didn't have the knowledge to protect them. Liberal democrats in U.S.A. are trying to build a new society based on prevention. God's kingdom opperates on protection not abortion, uthenatia, shortage or lack. The only thing I see coming out of accidents are disasters not Beautiful as the wourld would have us believe. God Loves us so much That He Sent his only Son to pay the price for our wilful behaviour.He suffered an horendus death on a cross to pay the price for our sin and we reject him at our peril and will have to pay the price, so unnessecarly.
I sometimes attend rallies where the Pastor is an indigionis man and he knows that Gods word is not the problem BUT we make our own trouble and the world under the curse is a very dangerous place and bad things happen to all.

Thats what happens a cargo-culture expects handouts and a socialist government exists to apply a salve for a mythical guilt by providing handouts.

the myth is perpetuated, the the detriment of both the recipient and the providers of the handout...

but some fat bureacrats and the political conscience of a bunch of demented lefties are appeased.

I wonder when Krudd will get off his arse and say "sorry" to the tax payers of Australia?

examinator,
I do not think the letter writers were trying to address all the social problems with aboriginal communities which need to be looked at as well as housing.

There seems to have been much criticism about bureaucratic delays and the high costs of the housing. These are the issues the writers focused on.

As for design, I understand that, as long as one stayed within certain parameters that enable transportation, the interior design can be such to suit ones needs without additional costs.