Page 179 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 10 February 2016
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on freedom—freedom for them to believe what they believe; freedom for them to pray how they pray and where they pray; and freedom for them to speak what they believe and how they believe they should be able to speak. Different cultures have very different beliefs and unless we acknowledge these different beliefs, we cannot be a successful multicultural society.
Multiculturalism at its best is about the freedom of citizens to be who they are. It is easy to support multiculturalism and our many faiths when we are celebrating ethnic food, dance and the other wonderful sides of these cultural experiences. But the real test is when we are left feeling uncomfortable by the different views we hold. Sometimes difference makes us uncomfortable, and that is okay. Here in Canberra we are blessed with some people who are passionate about their beliefs and cultures. They care so much that they are willing to put themselves in the public domain and the public debate for those beliefs, and we should applaud them and make sure the door is open for them.
As our VC winner Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith said in his Anzac Day address last year, freedom is not free. Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith understands this sentiment. He has put his body and soul on the line to defend our nation from those who would want us to be afraid in our own homes and our own city. If government tries to force us into a false peace by stopping us from being who we are, by stopping disagreement or difference or protest, then we are denying some of the freedom that our vulnerable servicemen and women have sacrificed their lives for.
Freedom is not free and we have to realise that we are all gloriously different and that that is a good thing. If we continue down this track, which is becoming evident in some government actions around the country, of forcing sameness on people and not being allowed to offend or truly debate, we will end up in a distinctly oppressive place. We have seen it in history too many times.
In conclusion, I thank all who are involved in working this weekend to produce the multicultural showcase of the Multicultural Festival. I thank Minister Berry for all that she has, no doubt, put in. I expect it will be another good year and another experience of building up the ties between our community groups and members. I look forward to hearing the views of others in this positive debate.
MS BERRY (Ginninderra—Minister for Housing, Community Services and Social Inclusion, Minister for Multicultural and Youth Affairs, Minister for Sport and Recreation and Minister for Women) (4.30): After all of the other different debates that we have had in this Assembly today, it looks like Mrs Jones and I will be in mad agreement on the actual issue that she has brought to the chamber for discussion today, so I thank her for that.
As we all agree, Canberra is a great multicultural community. I was lucky enough to be able to experience that a couple of times over the past week when I was out with Dr Bourke celebrating and joining in a smoking ceremony with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and the elected body. We were joined by the Sri Lankan Buddhists who will be the neighbours of the housing units for older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to age in place. It was really lovely to see that diversity and that connection between those two very different communities.
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