Page 1010 - Week 03 - Thursday, 21 March 2019
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are seeking to achieve in our community as well as outlining practical actions and how we will measure our success while embedding areas for improvement. That will also reference the Welcoming Cities standard.
I am pleased to support the membership of Canberra as a welcoming city in the Chief Minister’s motion today. Membership of the Welcoming Cities network has a particular significance this week, following both the Christchurch terrorist attack last Friday and Harmony Day today. It is an important next step for Canberra to continue to grow as an inclusive, connected and progressive community, particularly for our migrant and multicultural communities. I hope that Canberra becoming a welcoming city can be supported by the whole Legislative Assembly.
MRS KIKKERT (Ginninderra) (4.53): I thank Mr Barr for bringing this motion before the Assembly today. The Canberra Liberals acknowledge that our nation is built upon migration and the principles of multiculturalism. We are proud of Australia’s multicultural history. This is not an academic discussion for me; I am a migrant who found shelter in Australia. Without this opportunity my life would have turned out very differently. I note that this is also the case for my Liberal colleagues Ms Lee and Mr Hanson.
The Canberra Liberals also take great pride in the generous welcome our nation gives to new Australians from refugee backgrounds. Whenever I think of refugees I think of my good friend and mentor Steve Doszpot who understood the importance of Australia’s refugee and humanitarian program with an intimacy that none of us in this room will ever be able to equal. Steve and his family escaped the Russian occupation of Hungary in 1957 and spent time in various refugee camps before receiving the miraculous news that the entire family had been accepted for resettlement in Australia.
Just last night I met a refugee, a strong and courageous woman from Afghanistan, Hangama, who found a warm embrace and new life here in Australia. As she explained, when she was young she had never even heard of Australia but she knew in her heart that there must be somewhere where life would be better for her. Now she and her young son have found that better life here with us. This is a good outcome for them, but it is also a good outcome for Canberra.
Residents with an assortment of cultures and different faiths, often speaking a multitude of languages, enrich our city. Research has found strong, positive links between culturally and linguistically diverse populations, and things such as business performance, educational outcomes, technological and workplace innovation, improved decision-making, increased creativity, community resilience, livability, economic sustainability and of course, the simple enjoyment that comes from enjoying each other’s contributions to the vibrancy of a place. The Canberra Liberals welcome the ACT’s membership of the Welcoming Cities network. I commend this motion to the Assembly.
MR COE (Yerrabi—Leader of the Opposition) (4.56): I rise briefly to reiterate Mrs Kikkert’s comments with regard to the Canberra Liberals’ support for this motion. The opposition is proud of the representation of the multicultural community in Canberra, something that enriches our city so much. The demonstration we had in this
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