At- risk kids house snub

THE Federal Government has been accused of snubbing Townsville, with money expected to go towards building another NRL house for at- risk kids being diverted farther North.

A group of 25 indigenous students moved into the $ 9.5 million NRL Cowboys House in Pimlico in January, and a push is now on to build a similar house for girls.

Queensland Housing and Public Works Minister Mick de Brenni said a “Cowboys Girls House” was “shovel ready”.

It just needed a funding commitment from the Federal Government to be built.

“I wrote to ( Federal Indi- genous) Minister ( Nigel) Scullion earlier in the year with a proposal to build both houses,” Mr de Brenni said.

“The Palaszczuk Government has put Queensland’s money and land on the table for Townsville, the Cowboys are keen, and we just need Nigel to release the funds,”

“For the minister to fly straight over Townsville, without any prior warning or discussions with the State Government is just odd.”

A spokesman for Mr Scullion, said he was working through standard “national partnership agreement” processes to consider funding for the proposed NRL Cowboys Girls House in Townsville.

“Minister de Brenni is fully aware of these processes, and it very disappointing he has chosen to play politics instead of unconditionally welcoming the Coalition’s $ 12 million investment in the future of indigenous girls from Far North Queensland through the creation of a new AFL Cape York House for girls,” the spokesman said.

Minister Assisting the Premier on North Queensland Coralee O’Rourke said NRL House had already proven itself as a valuable education opportunity for remote kids.

“Having seen the impact that NRL Cowboys House is already having on the first group of young men, it’s hard to justify holding off on extending those same opportunities to young women,” she said.