Australia’s Labor government is handing out $41.6 million to immigrant groups for community infrastructure, and says the funding will “strengthen social cohesion”.
The Infrastructure for Multicultural Communities grants program opened on Tuesday, and was unveiled by Minister for Multicultural Affairs Dr Anne Aly and Assistant Minister for Citizenship, Customs and Multicultural Affairs Julian Hill.
The grants can be used to support the construction, upgrade or extension of infrastructure used by immigrants, including community centres, museums, meeting facilities, stages for performing arts, sporting facilities and security upgrades.
“New and emerging multicultural communities” are prioritised for funding, as are projects “focused on achieving positive outcomes for multicultural women, multicultural LGBTIQA+ community members, and multicultural people with a disability”, according to the program description.
The Labor MPs said the grants would “enhance social cohesion by creating spaces that encourage connection, inclusion and participation across the wider community” and create work for local businesses, trades, suppliers and contractors.
Dr Aly, an Egyptian immigrant who was appointed to the new Office for Multicultural Affairs in June last year, said improving infrastructure used by “multicultural communities” would bring people together.
“This investment is about backing practical community infrastructure that helps multicultural communities thrive and helps build a stronger, more cohesive Australia.
“When communities have safe, welcoming and fit-for-purpose spaces, it creates opportunities for connection, participation and belonging, and in turn benefits all of us.
“These projects will also support local jobs and local businesses, ensuring this investment delivers both social and economic value in communities across the country.”
Mr Hill said the program was intended to create strong foundations for immigrant groups who wanted to retain their cultures.
“When you come to Australia no one expects you to leave your culture at the door. We encourage people to celebrate ancestral cultures and traditions and to proudly share them with other Australians and community spaces support this,” he said.
“Infrastructure grants are always highly competitive and sought after, and investments will be targeted at the highest quality proposals.”
The funding comes amid a worsening cost-of-living crisis due to high oil prices caused by the war in Iran, with economists warning of a recession by September if the conflict continues.
Header image: Left, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at Lakemba mosque. Right, Mr Albanese with Dr Anne Aly (PMO).
The post Labor handing out $40M to immigrant groups to ‘strengthen social cohesion’ first appeared on The Noticer.
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