Tuesday, 31 October 2023

 Iwan WALTERS (Greenvale) (19:03): (402) My adjournment matter this evening is for the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, and the action I seek is for the minister to inform me how the Victorian government’s $200,000 investment will assist our state’s Turkish community to celebrate the centenary of the Republic of Türkiye this week. The modern Turkish republic was founded in 1923 by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, an extraordinary leader and a brilliant soldier who led his nation’s armies during the First World War and defeated an invading force before becoming the father of the Turkish nation and its first president. In the century since, Australia has enjoyed a strong relationship with Türkiye, assisted by the migration of many Turkish people to Australia, a large proportion of whom have settled in Melbourne’s northern suburbs and have contributed so much to our community. Organisations like the Turkish sub-branch of the Victorian RSL, led by my constituent Ramazan Altintas and Sucettin Unal, contribute to Victoria’s strong relationship with Türkiye and its people by commemorating the long history of that relationship. They ensure that we can remember the tragedy and losses of the Gallipoli campaign as friends and allies, not as adversaries.

Our state also has a deep economic relationship with Türkiye, underpinned by our warm and enduring people-to-people links. So many businesses have been established in my community by innovators and entrepreneurs whose families came to Australia from Türkiye. Family enterprises like Tek Foods, Sahara, Turkish Bread Factory and many more underpin our local economy and also create valuable exports. These trading relationships are supported by organisations like MUSIAD, the Independent Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association, whose global president Mahmut Asmali visited Victoria last week and who I was delighted to welcome to the Parliament of Victoria. Organisations like Turan Australia, the Northern Turkish Women’s Association and Islamic Community Milli Gorus, led by Ramazan Otkun, serve the community in so many varied ways, from outstanding schools like Ilim College and the provision of valued social services to the faith leadership and ministry of mosque communities like ICMG Meadow Heights.

Their service to my own community is particularly inspiring. I am proud that Greenvale has the largest Turkish–Australian population of any district represented in this house and deeply grateful for the contribution of so many. I congratulate all those in Greenvale and across Victoria celebrating this auspicious centenary, and I again ask the minister to inform me how the Victorian government’s significant support will assist the Turkish–Victorian community to mark the occasion of the Republic of Türkiye’s centenary.