❓ Ms. Winton asks about the progress of the Aboriginal Cultural Centre, including location and economic opportunities for Aboriginal people. Mr. Templeman responds by announcing the location and highlighting the project's benefits for tourism, education, and reconciliation.
AnsweredQoN 500Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ABORIGINAL CULTURAL CENTRE
500. Ms S.E. WINTON to the Minister for Culture and the Arts:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's commitment to promoting and celebrating Aboriginal
culture.
(1) Can the minister update the house on the
development of a world-class Aboriginal cultural centre for WA ,
including the preferred location for the centre?
(2) Can the
minister outline to the house how this project will help to unlock economic
opportunities for Aboriginal people?
500. Ms S.E. WINTON to the Minister for Culture and the Arts:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's commitment to promoting and celebrating Aboriginal
culture.
(1) Can the minister update the house on the
development of a world-class Aboriginal cultural centre for WA ,
including the preferred location for the centre?
(2) Can the
minister outline to the house how this project will help to unlock economic
opportunities for Aboriginal people?
AnswerView source ↗
Yes, yes, yes, yes! I am very happy
to respond and answer the question.
The SPEAKER : And I am hoping
that in your response, you might address the chair. Thank you.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : I am sure
I will remember that, Madam Speaker.
The SPEAKER : And stay in
your place!
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : I answer
as follows.
(1)–(2) As
members would know, the McGowan government delivered the tremendous Boola
Bardip, the new museum for Western Australia, which is a magnificent cultural
icon for the state. Yesterday, with some very special guests, we announced the
site for the Aboriginal cultural centre, which, of course, is a commitment by
this government to ensure that we put our First Nations people front and centre
in not only our cultural institutions but also our story, and that will be the
focus of the Aboriginal cultural centre. I want to congratulate the member for
Wanneroo, as the task force chair, for the work she has done with the Whadjuk
reference group, which comprised a group of elders, in selecting the site. The
consultation has been thorough and intensive because, of course, we wanted to
make sure that the site chosen for this magnificent asset is embraced. There
are a number of sites, but the Aboriginal cultural centre will be built on the Terrace Road site. As the member for
Wanneroo indicated in her question, the benefits of this project will be
immeasurable in many respects. we want to make sure that when the Aboriginal
cultural centre opens in 2028 as proposed, it will be a magnificent example and
acknowledgement of our First Nations people from across the state. It will be
built, of course, on Whadjuk Noongar land but will represent the tremendous diversity of Aboriginals in Western Australia.
Our Aboriginal culture is the oldest living culture in the world and it
will be celebrated through this cultural centre. I want to highlight to members
that it will not only add to the magnificent tourism and experience assets
within our city—it will very much be a centrepiece for that—but
also allow us to tell the story of our First Nations people through art,
education, performance, research, community and commercial activities. It will
be unique.
The next part of the process is the
further scoping of design, which will be a very important aspect. Many people
have described it as the opportunity to be our Opera House or whatever it might
be, but it will be unique to us. I think we should be very proud that the
announcement yesterday highlighted the location of the site. The hard work will
now continue in terms of building the funding and scoping of the design, but it
is something of which all Western Australians should be very proud. It is, of
course, the McGowan government that will
deliver this project. There is some hard work ahead, but what a magnificent
project to look forward to as the state moves towards the 2029
acknowledgement of our history. What a magnificent beacon to highlight First Nations Western Australians front and centre
as part of the story of this state and the story of this nation. It is
happening here in Perth, Western Australia. It is being led by this government,
which is fully focused on our First Nations people, unlike, as was highlighted,
sadly, by the Minister for Transport, some
on the other side who want to cancel things like the Dreamtime match and the
Anzac Day match. That is such a detrimental
comment from those opposite. This is about reconciliation, acknowledgement and celebration. That is what we on this side
of the house believe. Unfortunately, that belief is not necessarily shared by members opposite.
to respond and answer the question.
The SPEAKER : And I am hoping
that in your response, you might address the chair. Thank you.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : I am sure
I will remember that, Madam Speaker.
The SPEAKER : And stay in
your place!
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : I answer
as follows.
(1)–(2) As
members would know, the McGowan government delivered the tremendous Boola
Bardip, the new museum for Western Australia, which is a magnificent cultural
icon for the state. Yesterday, with some very special guests, we announced the
site for the Aboriginal cultural centre, which, of course, is a commitment by
this government to ensure that we put our First Nations people front and centre
in not only our cultural institutions but also our story, and that will be the
focus of the Aboriginal cultural centre. I want to congratulate the member for
Wanneroo, as the task force chair, for the work she has done with the Whadjuk
reference group, which comprised a group of elders, in selecting the site. The
consultation has been thorough and intensive because, of course, we wanted to
make sure that the site chosen for this magnificent asset is embraced. There
are a number of sites, but the Aboriginal cultural centre will be built on the Terrace Road site. As the member for
Wanneroo indicated in her question, the benefits of this project will be
immeasurable in many respects. we want to make sure that when the Aboriginal
cultural centre opens in 2028 as proposed, it will be a magnificent example and
acknowledgement of our First Nations people from across the state. It will be
built, of course, on Whadjuk Noongar land but will represent the tremendous diversity of Aboriginals in Western Australia.
Our Aboriginal culture is the oldest living culture in the world and it
will be celebrated through this cultural centre. I want to highlight to members
that it will not only add to the magnificent tourism and experience assets
within our city—it will very much be a centrepiece for that—but
also allow us to tell the story of our First Nations people through art,
education, performance, research, community and commercial activities. It will
be unique.
The next part of the process is the
further scoping of design, which will be a very important aspect. Many people
have described it as the opportunity to be our Opera House or whatever it might
be, but it will be unique to us. I think we should be very proud that the
announcement yesterday highlighted the location of the site. The hard work will
now continue in terms of building the funding and scoping of the design, but it
is something of which all Western Australians should be very proud. It is, of
course, the McGowan government that will
deliver this project. There is some hard work ahead, but what a magnificent
project to look forward to as the state moves towards the 2029
acknowledgement of our history. What a magnificent beacon to highlight First Nations Western Australians front and centre
as part of the story of this state and the story of this nation. It is
happening here in Perth, Western Australia. It is being led by this government,
which is fully focused on our First Nations people, unlike, as was highlighted,
sadly, by the Minister for Transport, some
on the other side who want to cancel things like the Dreamtime match and the
Anzac Day match. That is such a detrimental
comment from those opposite. This is about reconciliation, acknowledgement and celebration. That is what we on this side
of the house believe. Unfortunately, that belief is not necessarily shared by members opposite.
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