Housing crisis in Australia's mining town Nhulunbuy squeezes small businesses

In Australia's Northern Territory mining town of Nhulunbuy, a government-funded housing provider is being criticised for "not doing enough" to support small business owners. Businesses in the region are struggling to house their workers.

The housing shortage in the town is directly hitting the small businesses that form the backbone of the local economy. Business owners say they are finding it hard to recruit and retain staff, and that the lack of affordable housing is constraining their operations.

The issue has grown into a dispute between the Northern Territory government and the housing fund. Nhulunbuy is going through an economic transition after large mining and refinery operations in the area scaled back. Officials stress that housing and business support are critical to the town's future.