First Nations people living in “dilapidated” housing in the Northern Territory could be compensated after Australia’s highest court agreed to hear their case. 

Eastern Arrernte woman Enid Young is pursuing legal action against the NT government over the poor quality of rental homes in the remote community of Santa Teresa in central Australia, near Alice Springs. 

Residents have been left without electricity, hot water, cooking facilities or functioning toilets for months and years at a time, according to not-for-profit litigators Grata Fund. 

The High Court last Friday granted Ms Young, who is aged in her 70s, special leave to appeal a previous decision by the NT Court of Appeal that tenants could not be compensated. 

It will be asked to decide whether residents of Santa Teresa are entitled to compensation for the ‘distress and disappointment’ of living in poorly maintained homes…