Page 144 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 16 February 2011
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37 other people felt that the freedom of speech through the presentation of the petition in that house, or the lower house for that matter, was more important than trying to prevent discrimination on the basis of religious grounds. I think that is sad and it is a shame. But the bigger one is that this could happen in the context of parliamentary privilege. The fact that it was put forward 45 times on behalf of only three people should be seen in context. I think the media has beaten this up out of proportion, quite frankly. I do not believe that this is a sentiment which is afoot here in Canberra. And the Multicultural Festival, in fact, was testament that it is not.
I would like to read from a letter that was given to me from the Mon community, to give you an idea of how important this is to the smaller communities in Canberra. You will excuse the English because it is not very good. I will read it as it is. It says:
It is Canberra’s summer. It is a beauty of Canberra. Over 60000 faces of people from around the region helped to celebrate the National Multicultural Festival. I helped cooking for Mon Stall with other Mon families and leaders.
I make the point to you, Mr Speaker, that this is a very small community. It has only got 200 to 300 people in it. The letter continues:
We dress up in red T-shirt on “Mon Food”. We sold out our stock and made over $5,000.00 for the day.
Five thousand dollars to that community is a bucketful of money. He goes on to say:
I am, now a father, a community member of the Mon and I am proud to be a Mon. My kid and other kids were dancing for the best image of the day … Our president, Nai Tin Aye stands by near the shop for all helps. Secretary Nai Loka and his colleagues work from 6am to til 12 pm late night. It is proud to be Mon for all.
He goes on to say in the next paragraph:
It is proud to be a Mon in Canberra.
He then says:
Nai Din Pla, stall’s coordinator setting up, cooks, and run around for all day. He never tired for doing anything in the shop. The stall is packed with 20 persons for the day.
That is 10 per cent of the community. He then goes on to say:
I am proud to be Mon in the town.
Mon music, dance and food impressed Australian. We hand out paper of ‘What is Mon”, to our guests. They know us by now.
Here is a community, a tiny community, that now has a place in the sun in this community. That is what it is about. He said:
It is proud to be Mon and a day of full pride for all.
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