Page 844 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 18 March 2015
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Other members will no doubt discuss the role of the NDIS and social enterprises in helping social inclusiveness. I am proud of the fact that our capital, our Canberra, is a safe and harmonious community. I mentioned earlier our much-loved National Multicultural Festival. Not only is this a fantastic event, but it is a chance for members of our diverse cultural communities to share with everyone the things that make their cultures unique. We can see that we are living together in harmony with 250,000 people or more regularly attending our National Multicultural Festival, enjoying themselves and having fun. This is one of the things that make us such a great multicultural community.
I know that community leaders are working with government to make sure that young people especially are engaged in activities that build connection and belonging. Festivals, the arts and events celebrate our community’s cultural diversity. As always, our theatres deliver a quality program of works that seek to challenge, delight and intrigue us. We have an outstanding calendar of festivals and events in Canberra that advance the city’s continued evolution and its reputation as a great place to live, work, visit, learn and invest. These are things that bring economic benefits but that also help to build a strong sense of community pride and form our identity as a capital and as a community.
Over the last six months we have had a great Floriade, and successful Asian Cup and Cricket World Cup matches. This is on top of a packed calendar of annual Canberra Day events, including Enlighten. These events galvanise the city and celebrate our cultural diversity and collective spirit. They also prove that the ACT can deliver world-class events. I want to make special mention of Enlighten, now in its fifth year. I know that at its inception some members of the opposition did not think much of Enlighten. But anybody who went out to Enlighten the other night and saw the thousands of Canberrans enjoying themselves would know that they are in a very small minority.
Mr Coe: I was at the Canberra Show.
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr Coe, for that information.
Mr Coe: I had to get to the show.
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Coe! Stop the clock, please. Mr Coe, you will have an opportunity, I am sure, to talk to this motion, if you wish. In the meantime, I would like you to remain silent. Dr Bourke.
DR BOURKE: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I am sure Mr Coe did enjoy the show, but I am talking about Enlighten. The inclusion of the Enlighten night noodle markets for the first time led to a huge boost in crowd numbers and further complemented the successful cultural and entertainment program that has become synonymous with Enlighten in recent years. I am sorry that Mr Coe was not there to enjoy the night noodle markets.
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