Tuesday, 9 September 2025

Community safety

Eden FOSTER (Mulgrave) (16:42): Today I rise to celebrate Victoria’s incredible multiculturalism and the privilege it is to represent the diverse community of the electorate of Mulgrave. Mulgrave is home to people who have come here from all over the world, from Vietnam, China, Cambodia, India and so many other nations. Our diversity is our greatest strength and our beauty. It brings with it a richness of culture, vibrant food, deep traditions and countless stories of resilience and courage. I too come from a multicultural background. My mother came to Australia from India. She raised me to honour my Indian heritage and to see it for what it truly is: a strength and something I should be proud of.

All Victorians should be proud of their heritage and proud to be part of a multicultural state, which is why I was so disgusted to have seen rallies recently filled with racist slogans and symbols and to hear language of division and fear. Australia is not a place for hate or fear, yet that is what many of us saw two weeks ago. To add to that hate, federal Liberal Party senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price last week made baseless and offensive claims about the Indian community in Australia. We must not be silent in the face of this racism. All sides must call it out.

I would like to make it clear that it does not matter where you come from; you are welcome here and deserve respect, safety and dignity. As a representative for the Mulgrave community, I know they hurt because I hurt with them, but I am proud to be part of a government that embraces and celebrates this diversity and stands up for Victorians.