Source: canberratimes.com.au

The ACT opposition has criticised government delays in finding a suitable site for an Ahmadiyya Muslim mosque in Canberra.

The government has offered a block of land to the Ahmaddiya community at Narrabundah, after two other sites in Rivett and Hume proved to be unsuitable.

The community first expressed an interest in building a dedicated mosque and attached community centre in 2009, but decided not to proceed with a site adjoining the Rivett shops after residents raised parking concerns in late 2014 and early 2015.

The government offered another site at Hume in 2015, but withdrew it when staff found a development application for a mosque in the area would probably be unsuccessful.

Opposition multicultural affairs spokeswoman Giulia Jones said the government showed “a complete lack of respect” for the group through a lack of consultation with nearby landowners.

She told the Legislative Assembly the approach had been “far from welcoming” to the Ahmadiyya community.

“Again, we see the government showing lack of respect for the cultural group and contempt for residents in the area,” she said.

“This approach seems to have become the modus operandi for the government: dragging their feet or moving the goal posts on vulnerable community groups.”

Multicultural and Youth Affairs Minister Yvette Berry said the government was in a… read more at canberratimes.com.au