00:00No running water, leaking sewerage and too hot to live in.
00:06This is the reality for residents of Santa Teresa, who've been fighting their landlord,
00:11the NT government, for safe and liveable housing for almost a decade.
00:17The government response was to fight back, but was then found liable in the highest court
00:22of Australia for the distress and disappointment the residents were forced to endure.
00:27But residents may be waiting years for compensation.
00:31The question in the court today is what quantum should be available, or what amount should
00:36be available to Ms Young for the breach that she suffered.
00:41Driving the residents' case was Ms Young, who passed away last year before ever seeing
00:47a resolution.
00:48She'd lived without a door for five years, always fearful of intruders.
00:53Her lawyer, indignant,
00:55This case has already gone on for eight years.
00:59My client died waiting for justice.
01:02In a previous ruling, it was determined that Ms Young was owed a mere $4.93 per day for
01:08the government's failure to fix her home.
01:10But today, in the NT Court of Appeal, lawyers for Ms Young and her fellow community members
01:16argued that figure is manifestly inadequate.
01:20Government lawyers told the court the matter should instead be heard in the Northern Territory
01:24Civil and Administrative Tribunal, which mediates lesser disputes, saying,
01:30The high court said what the high court has said.
01:33That's the principle, and that's the one that needs to be applied.
01:36There's no reason why this court should construe or interpret or put some gloss on what the
01:42high court ruled.
01:44If the NT government gets its way, a decision on compensation could take up to two years,
01:50delaying other cases awaiting guidance.
01:53It's not good enough for the community's legal team.
01:56We're very keen to have this matter resolved.
01:58We're very keen to see compensation start to flow to the communities.
02:02Judges today reserved their decision on which court will deal with the matter of compensation.
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