As Australia India relations are growing to the next level of cooperation and mutual dependence Assistant Minister for Multicultural Affairs Jason Wood has promised that a re-elected Morrison Government will deliver $3.5 million to the Australia India House Charitable Foundation (AIHCF) to build a permanent base in the Springfield area.
The funding will allow the AIHCF to construct a premises, known as ‘Australia India House,’ that can be used for community meetings, events and day to day business.
The funding commitment was made by Assistant Minister for Multicultural Affairs Jason Wood while visiting the AIHCF at Springfield with locally-based Senator Paul Scarr, LNP candidate for Blair Sam Biggins and LNP Oxley candidate Kyle McMillen.
Minister Wood told The Australia Today, “I am proud to be part of a team that supports our wonderful multicultural community.”
LNP candidate for Blair Sam Biggins said the AIHCF helped hundreds of migrants in the community and an established Australia India House would be a place where the entire community was welcome.
“I am thrilled with this announcement and I know that an Australia India House is welcome news for the Indian-Australian community in Blair,”
Mr Biggins said.
The AIHCF is a non-profit organisation that was established in 2019. Since the early 1970s, the migration of people of Indian origin to Queensland has increased substantially. More than 50,000 Indians are now living in Queensland.
The building will also be used for crisis and interim accommodation, supporting domestic violence victims within migrant Australian communities and providing education and vocational training.
AIHCF president Professor Prasad Yarlagadda said he was thrilled with the announcement, which would allow the charity to reach out and engage with more people in the wider community.
“This greatly appreciated funding will serve the diverse needs of Queensland multicultural communities to host arts and culture events, festivals of national significance and educational programs,” Professor Yarlagadda said.
“This initiative by the Morrison Government demonstrates the national commitment to supporting the Indian diaspora. It will turn the Australia India House into living testimony that Australia is the most successful multicultural country in the world.”
added Professor Yarlagadda.
Professor Yarlagadda added it would also provide a permanent base to support the specific cultural needs of the community.
“Unfortunately, at the moment, there is no centrally located facility to celebrate and preserve Indian culture,” Professor Yarlagadda said.
“The project aims to use a place as a learning centre of culture and language by the different groups within the Indian community.”
Other community organisations, including Springfield Land Corporation, have also pledged support for the project, including Springfield Land Corporation.