Page 986 - Week 03 - Thursday, 21 March 2019
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The ACT is the most LGBTIQ+ welcoming and inclusive jurisdiction in Australia. We pride ourselves on enhancing the visibility of our LGBTIQ community. By funding the safe schools program, after the current federal government ceased their funding, we will ensure that young people are supported to feel included when they are often at their most vulnerable. We are all better when we welcome all people to participate fully and invest their talents, passion, knowledge and ability into our city.
In 1966 the United Nations General Assembly recognised 21 March as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and challenged the international community to do better at stamping out racism. It is particularly important this Harmony Day to recognise that the origins of that day go back six years earlier, to 21 March 1960, when police shot and killed 69 people at a peaceful anti-apartheid demonstration in Sharpeville, South Africa.
Today’s recognition of Harmony Day has taken on a new significance following the terrorist attacks in Christchurch last Friday. It seems difficult to celebrate Harmony Day this year; we are still in mourning with the Muslim communities in Christchurch and New Zealand, the victims and their families and friends. But it is more important than ever to come together for inclusion, to stand against racism and with our multicultural communities.
I am so proud to live in our inclusive, progressive and connected city. We recognise that bringing together a mix of people, with different backgrounds, experiences and cultures is essential to a thriving city and a source of innovation. Today Canberra is becoming a welcoming city officially, where we will join with 135 cities and municipalities from around the world so that we can learn from one another and share best-practice approaches and models to ensure that Canberra remains the most inclusive city in Australia.
Our membership as a welcoming city will also enable us to benchmark ourselves against the welcoming city standard and identify practical actions to improve inclusion in our city. It is an important next step for Canberra to continue growing as an inclusive, connected and progressive community, particularly for our migrant and multicultural communities.
International events in relation to terrorism make it increasingly important to develop a cohesive and robust society based on respect and appreciation of differences. The ACT government works closely with the commonwealth and other states and territories through the safer communities initiatives. International research indicates that one of the strongest protective factors for preventing acts of terrorism is inclusion, ensuring that all members of our community feel welcome and, indeed, are welcome in our city and our country. Our actions speak louder than our words. The government know the importance of inclusion and respect for all people and demonstrate it through our actions.
MRS KIKKERT (Ginninderra) (3.29): I thank Mr Pettersson for bringing this matter of public importance before the Assembly today. On many prior occasions I have stood in this chamber to speak on tolerance and inclusion, and I am pleased to do so
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