Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Peter Cain, will move a motion in the Legislative Assembly today, calling on the ACT Labor-Greens government to honour their election promise to construct a multicultural venue at EPIC.

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

“In 2020, ACT Labor promised ‘to create hundreds of new local jobs by investing $21 million to build a new 10,000m² indoor venue at EPIC’, yet these terms were abandoned,” Mr Cain said.

“This year’s budget revealed a minor refurbishment, of an undisclosed amount, to the Fitzroy Pavilion that will fulfill the commitment in the ACT Government’s eyes.

“This is disingenuous from the Minister to believe this facility will match what they have promised.

“This is a broken election promise to Canberra’s multicultural communities. My motion calls for this Labor-Greens government to formally honour its election commitment to construct a new, purpose-built multicultural events facility at EPIC.

“The multicultural and multifaith community occupies a treasured and celebrated position in the ACT, and as such deserve delivery of what was promised.

“This Labor-Greens government should not get away with breaking this promise, they cannot sweep it under the rug, and they cannot afford to disappoint our multicultural community where it’s politically expedient,” Mr Cain concluded.