‘Unfunded’: LNP walks away from First Nations cultural centres proposed for Qld
Plans to build First Nations cultural centres in Brisbane and Cairns worth more than $300m have been scrapped by the state government, ending decades of lobbying.
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Plans to build First Nations cultural centres in Brisbane and Cairns worth more than $300m have been scrapped by the state government, ending decades of lobbying from tourism and business advocates across Queensland.
Community leaders had hoped the 2032 Olympics would pressure the Crisafulli Government to back the project which first gained momentum in the late 90s under former premier Peter Beattie.
But arts minister John-Paul Langbroek confirmed exclusively to the Cairns Post that the $3m business case, started in early 2022, had finally been reviewed with the LNP unwilling to back the initiative.
“The previous Labor government had nearly a decade, and indeed many decades prior while in office, to progress the delivery of a First Nations cultural centre in Brisbane, or in Cairns,” Mr Langbroek said.
“But despite repeated announcements, glossy business cases and endless consultations, they failed to deliver anything tangible.
“The Crisafulli government is committed to supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through a broad range of cultural and arts initiatives.”
The proposal was hailed by the First Nations Tourism Council in the aftermath of the LNP’s decision to shut down the state’s treaty and truth-telling inquiry and the failed voice referendum.
In Cairns, Gimuy Walubarra Yidinji elder Henrietta Marrie AM passionately campaigned for the centres, arguing that they could house stolen artefacts repatriated from museums around the world while immersing visitors in the world’s oldest living culture’s history.
Flow-on economic benefits would come from art galleries, restaurants and retail opportunities, proponents said.
“ I think it’s a crying shame that for so long we’ve gone without a place we can call our own,” Ms Marrie said recently.
“Somewhere we can be proud to bring our young people to and teach them about our songlines, dances and teach the language of this region.”
The LNP’s First Nations record came under attack from Member for Cairns Michael Healy during NAIDOC Week celebrations at Fogarty Park last Friday.
“One of the first actions taken by this government was to remove the Path to Treaty legislation,” the former tourism minister said.
“Not long after that, the LNP government sacked the truth telling and healing inquiry.
“With the state budget released last week, we all saw that the cultural and historical museums slated for Cairns and Brisbane … had disappeared from the budget papers.”
Southbank or Musgrave Park had been flagged as possible sites for the Brisbane centre with premier David Crisafulli failing to rule the dual centres out when asked about the proposal in January.
A location for the Cairns site was never publicly revealed.
The LNP will support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts initiatives through funding of indigenous arts centres, grants and opportunities through the Backing Indigenous Arts program and the First Nations Commissioning Fund, Mr Langbroek said.
The LNP’s announcement coincides with the opening of the Cairns Indigenous Arts Fair, celebrating Queensland’s First Nations peoples work within the industry.
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Originally published as ‘Unfunded’: LNP walks away from First Nations cultural centres proposed for Qld
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