The Bhutanese Community has dealt with significant struggle and loss in the last few years.
The community has grieved the murder of a woman in her workplace, without the appropriate space and resources to observe their end-of-life ceremonies and cultural practice.
4000 members of the Canberra community are living and working without access to culturally appropriate spaces to observe daily religious practice, relying on the solidarity of other community groups, schools, and their union to share space for celebration of national days.
Coupled with a resurgence in blame directed at migrants for national economic issues around lack of affordable housing, Federal Government changes to visa laws, and weakened social cohesion, the Bhutanese and other migrant communities in the ACT need solidarity from ACT Labor and real belonging in our community.
It is time for the Bhutanese Community to have land and a long-term community space in Canberra.