Last month, the Liberals announced an $11.4 million refurbishment for the AIS Arena, Canberra’s largest indoor venue; today, Labor promised $15 million to upgrade and reopen the building, which has been closed since 2020.
The AIS Arena has been Canberra’s premier indoor sporting and concert venue for 40 years, but needed safety and facility upgrades needed before it could safely reopen, Senator for the ACT Katy Gallagher, Alicia Payne MP, and Catherine King MP, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, said in a statement issued this morning.
The project would upgrade fire safety, seating, lighting, toilets, and other facilities, and improve amenity across the precinct.
The Labor politicians said an Albanese Labor Government would work with the ACT Government to “deliver Canberrans the facilities they deserve for sports, community events, and concerts”.
In April, Liberal Senator for the ACT Zed Seselja, and Commonwealth Minister for Sport Richard Colbeck, announced funding to fix lighting, fire safety systems, lifts, mechanical services, and electrical systems, and to improve and replace seating so that the AIS Arena could reopen in 2023. It has been closed since 2020, and used as a mass vaccination hub since last year.
Senator Seselja said he had “been fighting for this much-needed investment, while engaging with local community organisations and sports bodies who were keen to see the AIS Arena re-opened”.
Independent Senate candidate David Pocock, a contender for Senator Seselja’s seat, noted this was the first time the facility had “any serious money spent on it” since 2016.
Today, the Labor politicians accused the Liberal Government of consistently neglecting the facility for the whole time they have been in office.
“The Liberals have mothballed this Arena, and have only made a half-baked commitment to reopen it because they are feeling the pressure in an election campaign,” Senator Gallagher said.
“The Liberals’ commitment to this project is a fig leaf,” Ms King said. “They have not committed enough money to get this facility up to scratch, and they know it.”
Labor, Senator Gallagher said, would “do the job properly, and ensure this facility is the go-to indoor event space for several years to come”.
“The AIS Arena is an asset to the nation, and the national capital,” Ms Payne said. “Labor understands that the arena is not than just a sporting venue, it’s a community hub for people right across the region.
