Labor-Greens Renege on Multicultural Venue Election Promise

Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Peter Cain, has called out the Multicultural Affairs Minister for misleading Canberra’s multicultural community about an election commitment during Budget Estimates hearings today.

The Parliamentary and Governing Agreement (PAGA) for the 10th Assembly outlines that a Labor-Greens government will ‘construct a large new multicultural events venue at EPIC for cultural performances and available for hire for large private functions.’

When asked about the venue, the Multicultural Minister advised the proposed refurbishment of the Fitzroy Pavilion at EPIC would sufficiently fulfill the PAGA.

“This is both a disingenuous and misleading claim,” Mr Cain said.

“The Minister is attempting to pass off a minor refurbishment of the Fitzroy Pavilion as the $21 million dollar venue promised for multicultural Canberrans at the 2020 ACT election.”

“This pre-existing facility is like any other government venue for hire that will be available for use to other EPIC users.”

“When I asked the Chief Minister about the timing of the venue’s completion in a Question on Notice, I was advised that they do not even know when construction will start.”

“This is a broken election promise to Canberra’s multicultural communities.”

“Multicultural Canberrans now have irrefutable confirmation this disingenuous Labor-Greens government will not deliver the facility as was promised in the PAGA.”

“Multicultural Canberrans not only deserve a government with integrity, but they deserve a government that is competent.”

“This is just another example of basic standards of integrity and competence not even being remotely met by this Barr-Rattenbury government,” Mr Cain concluded.