North-Eastern Metropolitan Region
Aiv PUGLIELLI (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:53): (1777) My question today is to the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, and I start by absolutely welcoming the announcement that Melbourne’s eastern suburbs will be getting a Chinese community centre. My region is home to a diverse and vibrant Chinese diaspora community, and I am proud to work with this community and support their work. I have been contacted by local residents who are from the region. I have been speaking with local community leaders, and they have raised some concerns with elements of the expression-of-interest process for this community centre. Specifically, they have informed me that they are concerned the timeframe for the process is too short given the significance of the project. They are also concerned that the requirement that groups must own land to be eligible will prevent a number of large and longstanding organisations from applying. They have actually suggested that a Chinese community consultative body, capturing the diversity and breadth of these communities in my region, could provide useful advice and guidance not only on this project but on others. Minister, will you establish a Chinese community consultative body?