Thursday, 11 September 2025

 Meng Heang TAK (Clarinda) (17:10): (1321) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, and the action I seek is for the minister to provide the latest information on the Bright Moon Buddhist temple upgrade supported through the government’s Chinese Community Infrastructure Fund. I was delighted to join the minister at Bright Moon earlier this year to announce that the temple had received more than $330,000 to upgrade its facility in spring. This is an amazing result for our community, with significant funding to support the reconstruction of the traditional Buddhist temple style wall and gate following the tragic fire that took place there in 2023.

I am very proud of the Allan Labor government’s continuing support for Victoria’s vibrant community and for this space that brings people together. Bright Moon’s funding is part of the government’s $40 million Multicultural Community Infrastructure Fund – our commitment to building, upgrading and renovating community infrastructure for multicultural and multifaith communities across Victoria. This commitment is particularly important considering recent events in Victoria. It is another opportunity for us to show that we stand with all Victorians from all of our multicultural communities and to remind everyone that whoever they are, whoever they love, whoever they pray to, they are welcome here in Victoria.

I am very grateful to have become a citizen of this great country and of this great state – a country that values democracy, human rights, diversity and freedom. Our country, and our state in particular, is one of the world’s greatest multicultural success stories. We treasure and celebrate our diversity. It is essential to the success and vibrancy of our state, and I am constantly amazed by the contributions of our multicultural community to advancing Victoria and Australia, not just in terms of cultural and traditions but also in the vital everyday contributions to the community and the skill of industry, academics and the like. We are so lucky and grateful to all that have chosen to make their home here in Victoria and to all contributions and experiences which enrich our country and our state. I thank the minister for her important work, and I am looking forward to her response.