❓ Question regarding the Cook Labor government's $6 million community capital works fund and how it supports culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities. The Minister outlines the fund's benefits and criticises the opposition's lack of interest in multiculturalism.
AnsweredQoN 372Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CULTURALLY AND
LINGUISTICALLY DIVERSE COMMUNITIES
372. Ms M.M. QUIRK to the Minister for Citizenship and
Multicultural Interests:
I apologise. I have to accuse
myself of being slow!
I
refer to this Labor government's support for culturally and
linguistically diverse communities across Western Australia. Can the
minister outline to the house how the recently established $6 million community
capital works fund will further support CALD communities and associations?
LINGUISTICALLY DIVERSE COMMUNITIES
372. Ms M.M. QUIRK to the Minister for Citizenship and
Multicultural Interests:
I apologise. I have to accuse
myself of being slow!
I
refer to this Labor government's support for culturally and
linguistically diverse communities across Western Australia. Can the
minister outline to the house how the recently established $6 million community
capital works fund will further support CALD communities and associations?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for her question
and her interest in this area. The community capital works fund is an example
of the Cook Labor government's commitment to multiculturalism and
supporting our culturally and linguistically diverse community associations to
upgrade, maintain and diversify community infrastructure. The fund was originally created in 2020 as part of our COVID-19
recovery plan and the community capital works fund contributed to
keeping the WA economy strong through this period by maintaining important
social and physical infrastructure. We have
now committed a further $6 million over the next two financial years—$3
million in each financial year— to this important program. The 28
previously funded projects under this program provided a number of important
community association infrastructure facilities and created immediate business
and employment opportunities. The fund was greatly welcomed by our culturally
and linguistically diverse community associations and they stressed the need for this fund to be continued if
possible. We have listened to that advocacy by the community and we are
really proud that we have been able to keep the program going.
Facilities that are owned and operated by our CALD community
associations are crucial community hubs where people come together to celebrate
their culture, develop social connections and foster a sense of belonging. Some examples of the projects that have already
been funded include $155 000 for the upgrade of the Cambodian Welfare and Cultural Centre of WA community hall, $160 000 for the renovation of
Croatian House in Gwelup and $175 000 for upgrades to the Tuscany club in
Balcatta.
Cultural diversity is very
important to our social fabric in Western Australia and the Cook Labor
government recognises the quality of our
community by having a rich, diverse cultural mix. We understand the importance
of our CALD communities to our
society. Unfortunately, our commitment to and our views on culturally and
linguistically diverse communities is not shared by the opposition. It
gave only a paltry five minutes to questions on this portfolio during the budget estimates hearing. Three
questions were asked in those five minutes—one question was from the member for Roe based on his lack of understanding of the difference between the
spending changes and the total amount; one question was about how much the
satisfaction survey cost; and one question was asked, with about 30 seconds to go, about the community grants that
we are talking about today. So I am very pleased that I have been able to expand on this great program. At least the
member for Roe asked a question. The member for Central Wheatbelt did
not ask any questions and the member for Cottesloe ran out of the room. He was
not even interested.
It is really interesting that the
2021 census shows that in the electorate of Central Wheatbelt, 14.5 per cent of constituents were born outside of Australia,
5.3 per cent come from countries where English is not the main language and 4.5 per cent speak a language other than
English at home. In the electorate of Cottesloe, 29.1 per cent of residents were born outside of Australia, at least 13 per cent were born in countries where
English is not the main language and 11.2 per
cent speak a language other than English at home. In the member for Roe's
electorate, 14.4 per cent of residents were born outside of Australia,
at least 5.7 per cent were born in countries where English is not the main
language and 6.9 per cent speak a language other than English at home.
Despite
the lack of diversity on the opposition benches and the lack of interest in
multiculturalism, we on this side value very much our culturally and
linguistically diverse communities. We are proud to continue this very
important fund. It is a shame and it marks the lack of interest in this area by
members opposite that they allowed only five minutes in budget estimates to
talk about this portfolio.
and her interest in this area. The community capital works fund is an example
of the Cook Labor government's commitment to multiculturalism and
supporting our culturally and linguistically diverse community associations to
upgrade, maintain and diversify community infrastructure. The fund was originally created in 2020 as part of our COVID-19
recovery plan and the community capital works fund contributed to
keeping the WA economy strong through this period by maintaining important
social and physical infrastructure. We have
now committed a further $6 million over the next two financial years—$3
million in each financial year— to this important program. The 28
previously funded projects under this program provided a number of important
community association infrastructure facilities and created immediate business
and employment opportunities. The fund was greatly welcomed by our culturally
and linguistically diverse community associations and they stressed the need for this fund to be continued if
possible. We have listened to that advocacy by the community and we are
really proud that we have been able to keep the program going.
Facilities that are owned and operated by our CALD community
associations are crucial community hubs where people come together to celebrate
their culture, develop social connections and foster a sense of belonging. Some examples of the projects that have already
been funded include $155 000 for the upgrade of the Cambodian Welfare and Cultural Centre of WA community hall, $160 000 for the renovation of
Croatian House in Gwelup and $175 000 for upgrades to the Tuscany club in
Balcatta.
Cultural diversity is very
important to our social fabric in Western Australia and the Cook Labor
government recognises the quality of our
community by having a rich, diverse cultural mix. We understand the importance
of our CALD communities to our
society. Unfortunately, our commitment to and our views on culturally and
linguistically diverse communities is not shared by the opposition. It
gave only a paltry five minutes to questions on this portfolio during the budget estimates hearing. Three
questions were asked in those five minutes—one question was from the member for Roe based on his lack of understanding of the difference between the
spending changes and the total amount; one question was about how much the
satisfaction survey cost; and one question was asked, with about 30 seconds to go, about the community grants that
we are talking about today. So I am very pleased that I have been able to expand on this great program. At least the
member for Roe asked a question. The member for Central Wheatbelt did
not ask any questions and the member for Cottesloe ran out of the room. He was
not even interested.
It is really interesting that the
2021 census shows that in the electorate of Central Wheatbelt, 14.5 per cent of constituents were born outside of Australia,
5.3 per cent come from countries where English is not the main language and 4.5 per cent speak a language other than
English at home. In the electorate of Cottesloe, 29.1 per cent of residents were born outside of Australia, at least 13 per cent were born in countries where
English is not the main language and 11.2 per
cent speak a language other than English at home. In the member for Roe's
electorate, 14.4 per cent of residents were born outside of Australia,
at least 5.7 per cent were born in countries where English is not the main
language and 6.9 per cent speak a language other than English at home.
Despite
the lack of diversity on the opposition benches and the lack of interest in
multiculturalism, we on this side value very much our culturally and
linguistically diverse communities. We are proud to continue this very
important fund. It is a shame and it marks the lack of interest in this area by
members opposite that they allowed only five minutes in budget estimates to
talk about this portfolio.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.