Page 176 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 10 February 2016

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(a) assess the adequacy of the accommodation provided at the Theo Notaras building for multicultural groups;

(b) assess the funding levels and support available for groups serving the multicultural community, and the effectiveness of such funding in removing barriers to access equality of opportunity to CALD community members; and

(3) pledges on-going support for people of all ethnicities, faiths and cultures.

I am pleased to stand today as the shadow minister for multicultural affairs and speak to this motion regarding the importance of multiculturalism to our city. The motion asks that the Assembly note the important contribution made to Canberra by people of different ethnicities, faiths and cultures; the need for Canberra to continue to be culturally inclusive and a welcoming city; the need to continue to support freedom of expression for speech for CALD communities; the non-partisan history of support for our multicultural community; and the need to support CALD communities to have full access to the benefits of our city.

It calls on the government to assess the adequacy of the accommodation provided at the Theo Notaras building for multicultural groups; the funding levels of support available for groups serving in the multicultural community; the effectiveness of such funding in removing barriers to access equality of opportunity to CALD community members; to report back to the Assembly before the end of this Assembly; and that the Assembly pledges ongoing support to people of all ethnicities, faiths and cultures.

This weekend the ACT government hosts the great Multicultural Festival started by Kate Carnell when she was Chief Minister and the Liberals were in government and very strongly continued under the ALP government. Multiculturalism and the benefits of multiculturalism to our city and our nation are all around us, be it the 101,965 ACT residents who were born in another country, the 22 per cent of Canberrans who speak a language other than English at home, or the many foreign embassies that we are so lucky to host here in our capital. We are so fortunate to see many cultures, faiths and ethnicities so clearly on a daily basis. It has also been a productive part of our society. People have been putting their hands to the task as new Australians and new Canberrans and multigenerational and multicultural families of building the successful community that we are in so many ways today.

Ethnicity, faith and multiculturalism were apparent before Canberra even existed. In 1841 the foundation stone was laid for St John’s Church in Reid and it was consecrated on 12 March 1845. Next month marks 171 years since it was consecrated. St John’s is a foundation of Canberra, and its strength and longevity are testament to the non-partisan history of support for faith and cultural groups in the Canberra region.

Even before the foundation stone was laid for St John’s, the Ngunnawal people, the Wiradjuri people, the Gundangara people and the Ngarigo people all celebrated and practised their own unique culture in our area. We must ensure that we continue to encourage and appreciate their cultural practices and acknowledge their massive contribution to the original fabric of our city.

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