Labor’s assistant immigration minister has attended a ceremony on a site where a new Indian community and cultural centre will be built in southeast Queensland thanks to $5.5 million in taxpayer funds.
Matt Thistlethwaite, who added India to Australia’s working holiday program during a visit to Delhi last year, joined local Labor MP Shayne Neumann in the suburb of Springfield in Ipswich, south of Brisbane, this week.
Also in attendance during the visit were Federation of Indian Communities of Queensland President Dr Preethi Suraj, and Chair of the Springfield City Group Board, Jim Varghese AM – the author of an Australian government report urging closer economic ties with India.
“I was really excited to show Assistant Minister for Immigration Matt Thistlethwaite MP the site for our planned ‘House of India’ community and cultural centre in Greater Springfield today,” Mr Neumann said.
“This was a $5.5 million election commitment from Labor to deliver a new home for the Indian community in Queensland, but it will also be a shared community space for Ipswich.
“Our government stands with Indian Australians and this initiative recognises the significant contribution the Indian diaspora makes to our society.”
Labor in April promised $5.5 million for the centre, saying it would be “a dedicated hub for community activities and cultural events, as well as a meeting place for Indian community associations, and other multicultural and faith groups”.
The centre will also provide provide crisis accommodation, community education, language schools, sporting facilities, and kitchen facilities for food relief charities.
“FICQ has been championing the House of India project for decades and the initiative aims to support the growing Indian population in the Western Corridor, with around 10,000 people of Indian heritage now living in Ipswich and Greater Springfield,” Labor said at the time.
The Coalition made a matching promise during the same month which was announced by Liberal senator Paul Scarr.
Mr Scarr has since become Opposition immigration spokesman, abandoned promises to cut immigration and made a desperate effort to win over Indian voters with leader Sussan Ley.
After the site visit Mr Neumann and Mr Thistlethwaite attended a Multicultural Community Roundtable, and on Sunday the Member for Blair turned up at a sword dance event hosted by the Greater Springfield Indian Association.
Header image: The MPs and Indian community representatives at the site (Facebook).
