Division 1 Principal functions

8   Aboriginal housing assistance

(1)  The Aboriginal Housing Office has the principal functions of:

(a)  planning and developing programs and services to assist Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders in meeting their housing needs, and

(b)  delivering those programs and services, and

(c)  evaluating those programs and services from time to time in order to determine whether they continue to effectively meet the housing needs of Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders.

(2)  In exercising those principal functions, the AHO is:

(a)  to liaise with other government agencies and non-government bodies in the delivery of Aboriginal housing programs and services, and

(b)  to co-ordinate Aboriginal housing programs and services with other programs and services that are provided by government agencies (including Commonwealth agencies) and non-government bodies to assist Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders, and

(c)  to develop priorities for Aboriginal housing programs and services in accordance with the objects of this Act, and

(d)  to advise the Minister on Aboriginal housing policy, and

(e)  to develop and implement strategies for the employment of Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders in the delivery of Aboriginal housing programs and services.

9   Functions of AHO in relation to registered Aboriginal housing organisations

(1)  The Aboriginal Housing Office may:

(a)  subject to this Act, provide funding out of the Aboriginal Housing Fund to registered Aboriginal housing organisations, and

(b)  assist registered Aboriginal housing organisations in developing and implementing effective asset and management strategies, and

(c)  provide assistance to registered Aboriginal housing organisations in the form of advice, support services and training, or in such other form as the AHO considers appropriate.

Note. The AHO is required to register Aboriginal housing organisations under Part 5 of this Act.

(2)  The AHO may, with the approval of the Minister:

(a)  transfer or lease property to registered Aboriginal housing organisations, and

(b)  construct housing for registered Aboriginal housing organisations.

(3)  Subsection (2) does not limit the forms of assistance that can be provided by the AHO to registered Aboriginal housing organisations under subsection (1).

(4)  No duty is chargeable under the Stamp Duties Act 1920 or the Duties Act 1997 on a transfer or lease of property to a registered Aboriginal housing organisation by the AHO.

10   Power to enter into agreements with registered Aboriginal housing organisations

(1)  The Aboriginal Housing Office may enter into agreements with registered Aboriginal housing organisations in relation to funding, housing and other assistance provided to registered Aboriginal housing organisations under this Act.

(2)  The AHO must not, unless the Minister otherwise directs:

(a)  provide funding to a registered Aboriginal housing organisation, or

(b)  transfer land to a registered Aboriginal housing organisation, or

(c)  construct housing for or on behalf of a registered Aboriginal housing organisation, or

(d)  provide any other assistance to a registered Aboriginal housing organisation in such other circumstances as the Minister may determine,

      unless the AHO has entered into an agreement with the registered Aboriginal housing organisation in relation to the provision of that assistance.

Note. Part 4 sets out the types of conditions that may be contained in an agreement entered into under this section.

11   Provision of rental housing

(1)  The Aboriginal Housing Office may provide housing to Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders by leasing property to individuals or in such other manner as it considers appropriate.

(2)  The AHO may assist Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders with the cost of such housing by providing rental subsidies, rental rebates or any other assistance it considers appropriate.