Media Release: MELBOURNE OFFICIALLY NAMED HOST OF WORLD’S LARGEST MULTIFAITH GATHERING

FROM THE MINISTER FOR MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS

DATE: Monday, December 11, 2006

MELBOURNE OFFICIALLY NAMED HOST OF WORLD’S LARGEST MULTIFAITH GATHERING

Melbourne has officially won the bid to host the 2009 Parliament of the World's Religions (PWR).

Reverend Dirk Ficca, Executive Director of Council for the Parliament of the World's Religions (CPWR) made the announcement today during a visit to Victoria from the United States.

The Minister Assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs, Daniel Andrews, said Melbourne was an ideal choice to host the world’s largest multifaith gathering.

“This event will showcase Melbourne and Victoria’s diverse religious and cultural profile to the world. It will place an international spotlight on our multicultural city and demonstrate how different faith communities can live in harmony,” Mr Andrews said.

“Given the current global tensions that exist, gatherings of such as this are important to build bridges, develop greater understanding, appreciation and respect.”

The PWR will attract 10,000 visitors and inject more than $75 million into the Victorian economy. It will run for eight days during early December 2009 and will include more than 400 programs and performances relating to spiritual practice, religious identity and religious dialogue.

First held in Chicago in 1893, PWR brings together the world’s religious and spiritual leaders and their followers to attend a series of conferences, congresses and debates to discuss peace, diversity and sustainability.

The event will be run by the CPWR – a US based inter-religious organisation that cultivates harmony between the world’s religious and spiritual communities, fosters their engagement with the world to achieve a vision of a peaceful, just and sustainable world.

Mr Andrews congratulated the bid committee which included representatives from Victoria’s multicultural and faith communities and was chaired by Professor Des Cahill. He also commended the Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau (MCVB) for securing the event.