Minister for Employment Participation and Member for Gorton, Brendan O’Connor,  officially opened the Caroline Springs Civic Centre and Library & Caroline Springs Leisure Centre in Victoria on saturday 1st March.

Mr O’Connor said the Australian Government had provided $550,000 to the Melton Shire Council to build the Community Access Centre as part of the $1.2 million community centre.

“The Community Access Centre has provided a venue for Caroline Springs residents to meet and hold community activities and events,” Mr O’Connor said.

 “This is the first part of a larger community hub plan for the area with meeting and activity rooms available at the centre for community use, as well as a café to help attract visitors to the hub,”

"I am tremendously honoured and proud to be a member of a Parliament and Government that has taken such a significant step in acknowledging the wrongs of the past.

"As a nation we can now look to the future and begin addressing challenges such as the need to 'bridge the gap' between indigenous and non-indigeous Australians who have vastly different life expectancies, and educational and employment opportunities.

"I believe in the true spirit of reconciliation. Yesterday's Sorry Day opened a new chapter in our nation's history."

Read Brendan O'Connor's Parliamentary speech here.