Page 2263 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 28 August 2007
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In a group sense the South Sudanese people are a recent arrival to the ACT. Significant support has been given to this group which has some unique problems. At this point I pay credit to Kathy Ragless and Jeff McPherson from Companion House. They have done some remarkable work with young men in particular who have come to Canberra from Sudan—an awful and oppressive regime. I also pay particular credit to the young Sudanese men.
Recently, in the context of money that has been made available in the multicultural area, the strategy talked about a ministerial or multicultural youth forum. That youth forum, which has been held, was led not by us but by youngsters in the group who then became leaders and led the rest of their group. They advised the government what to do and I made a ministerial statement about that just the other day. I was delighted to see some young Sudanese men in that leadership group and I pay credit to them.
So we are not neglecting them. Furthermore, we are supporting them. Mr Pratt talked about a moral responsibility to help as well as providing money. We are supporting young Sudanese men who, as I mentioned, have a couple of unique problems. Recently I attended their soccer game to ensure that I raised its profile. It was a sensational day.
When young Sudanese fellows come into town they get together in groups to give themselves peer support. They do not know how to cook or how to do basic things because in their society women have always done those things for them and they do not have it in them to do that. We have to train them in the activities of daily living and to do things like that. Companion House runs a cooking class for young men for which it should be applauded. I have contributed an easy-to-cook recipe that a bloke can do that is incredibly nutritious and a lot of fun.
Mr Pratt: What is it?
MR HARGREAVES: As it turns out, it is a chicken casserole that can be made in 20 minutes. I am happy to give members the recipe later.
We do support these communities. Mr Pratt referred also to the multicultural festival. From time to time sponsors come, sponsors go, sponsors are replaced and sponsors go on. The level of support that the ACT government is giving the festival this year is the same as it gave it last year. The festival, which will occur in 2008, will be bigger and better than usual. A lot of planning is going on right now and we are receiving expressions of interest from people who want to participate in it. The dates are set, it will be held in February, and it will go ahead as usual.
This government is committed. It is known across Australia as the flagship of multiculturalism, as expressed in the ACT. Last year 140,000 people came in the pouring rain. The year before 160,000 people came when it was not pouring rain. Indeed, people have come from as far away as Perth and Brisbane just to participate, and some people from overseas participated as well. We are not talking about performers; we are talking about people who want to enjoy themselves. So the festival
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