Wednesday, 8 February 2023

 Sarah CONNOLLY (Laverton) (09:45): I would like to take this opportunity to wish my community in the electorate of Laverton a very happy Lunar New Year, whether you are celebrating the Year of the Cat or the Year of the Rabbit. Of course for communities like mine with significant numbers of East Asian families, the Lunar New Year is such a great time for celebration and coming together with family. I know for the Brimbank community, which is home to a very strong and very vibrant Vietnamese community, it is a wonderful opportunity for families to get together and celebrate the wonderful diversity that makes up our part of Melbourne’s mighty west.

That is certainly something I will celebrating, as I very much look forward to taking part in the Lunar New Year celebrations with the fantastic Sunshine Business Association. This is happening this weekend, and I know that the Sunshine Business Association and those committee members have put in so much hard work over such a long period of time in setting up this wonderful event, which will bring the entire community together to celebrate the Lunar New Year. It is going to be an event, I am proud to say, our government has supported through the multicultural festivals and events program, so it will be absolutely delightful to be there. I am going to be having a stall with my good friend and colleague the member for Fraser, Daniel Mulino. I would like to invite everyone in my community to come down and say hi and to celebrate Lunar New Year.