Page 101 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 13 February 2018
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First, multiple community organisations have assured me that they were not warned or consulted about this change; instead, they learnt about it when the new terms and conditions were released. This has left them feeling that, as culturally and linguistically diverse people, their voices have not been heard and their experience has been ignored.
Second, despite ACT Policing publicly praising the behaviour of attendees at last year’s festival, this year’s alcohol ban has been repeatedly justified by the ACT government as a safety measure. But on what basis? Nine people were arrested for intoxication on New Year’s Eve a few weeks ago. How many were detained for intoxication during the three days of the 2017 Multicultural Festival? Three. Once again, this makes our culturally and linguistically diverse Canberrans feel that they have been unfairly targeted and blamed.
Last, the revenue raised by some community groups has been so dependent on the sale of culturally specific drinks that some organisations now wonder how they will fund their activities in 2018.
The ACT government’s implementation of this change has been clumsy and heavy-handed. People from our multicultural communities do not want to be dictated to. Real consultation that respects the wisdom and experience of our diverse cultural communities could have reached a solution that left everyone feeling happy, important, valued and not excluded.
In question time today, Minister Stephen-Smith highlighted that this issue is unimportant because only a small number of stallholders have complained. I remind this Assembly, however, that the number of liquor permits from last year to this has dropped from 65 to 21. Besides, this would be a problem if it were just one community organisation. That is what it means to be a community.
Madam Speaker, I personally have faith in Canberra’s multicultural communities. I call on Minister Stephen-Smith to make sure that this year they are involved from the beginning in real consultation. I am confident they will make the best they can out of this year’s festival despite the government’s missteps. I know from personal experience that migrant communities are resilient. We can all be glad that they are.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
The Assembly adjourned at 5.38 pm.
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