Tarrkarri Centre for First Nations Cultures

The Hon. J.S. LEE (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:37): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs about Tarrkarri.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.S. LEE: On 1 November 2024, InDaily reported that the signage surrounding the 'vacant lot meant to house' the Tarrkarri Aboriginal arts and cultural centre had been updated to remove the reference to the centre opening in 2025; however, the new signage still states that the centre will cost $200 million. On multiple occasions the minister has stated that additional funding is needed to complete the project. On 16 October 2024, the minister told this chamber, and I quote:

…it was somewhere around $200 million. It was a combination of state money and federal money under one of the city's projects from the federal government. I want to be clear: that money is still there; that money hasn't been taken away.

The minister also stated that:

There has been a review undertaken. I think the Premier has made it clear that there is further funding being sought and that work continues.

My questions to the minister are:

1. Can the minister explain why the new signage still states that the centre will cost $200 million?

2. Is the government deliberately misleading the public with this signage?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:39): I thank the honourable member for her question. As I have stated before, this project is under review. The $200 million was a combination: I believe it was $115 million of state money and $85 million of federal money under a City Deal plan. The state government has stated that when that was slated to cost $200 million a review found that that may build something of potential local significance, certainly not of the national significance that such a project would need or deserve if built. We remain committed to looking to see if there are further moneys, whether it is private sector money or federal money, that we can leverage for the project.