Page 303 - Week 01 - Thursday, 27 February 2014
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I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who attended for helping to ensure that this important event was kept safe for all those participating. I would also like to congratulate the hardworking staff at the Office of Multicultural Affairs, all those people across government and the hundreds in the community sector organisations who, without a second thought, get involved in helping to bring such a great event together. And of course we all thank and acknowledge those who contributed to make another Multicultural Festival a great success—those who held stalls exhibiting fantastic food, the entertainers, the diplomatic corps, the vast array of sponsors who helped make this event possible, and the wonderful volunteers who were involved.
Importantly, what makes our festival so great is that the citizens of Canberra and the visitors that come to our city come together in their thousands to participate and appreciate Canberra being the multicultural community that it is today.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Gentleman.
MR GENTLEMAN: Minister, does the government remain committed to supporting the Multicultural Festival in future years?
MS BURCH: We remain strongly committed to supporting the National Multicultural Festival in future years. It is a popular and widely anticipated event that brings the Canberra community together and provides a forum for cultural showcase and for the celebration of our city’s diversity.
The festival’s economic benefits include: generating increases in economic activity through engagement with entertainers and cultural groups and through attraction of tourists to the region; contributing to quality of life in Canberra and attracting people to live and to work and to study here; and attracting support and investment in cultural and community activities here in the ACT.
The festival has also important social and community benefits. It strengthens our community. It reduces social isolation and exclusion and generates a sense of identity and self-confidence. It changes the perception of the nature of our community, and it raises the profile of many of our diverse community groups.
The promotion of intercultural harmony is an important policy concern for the ACT. We as policymakers continue to face both the opportunities and challenges inherent in ensuring the successful integration of refugees, immigrants and members of diverse cultural communities.
For all those reasons, the government is unwavering in its commitment to the National Multicultural Festival for many years to come.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Wall.
MR WALL: Minister, what was the process for awarding contracts to provide tents during the Multicultural Festival and why were local businesses overlooked for this opportunity?
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