Wednesday, 4 February 2026

 Paul HAMER (Box Hill) (10:03): I want to express my solidarity with our Victorian Iranian community, particularly the large number of Iranian Australians who live in the Box Hill electorate. Over the last six weeks we have seen awful images and heard terrible stories emerging from the streets of Iran as the Iranian regime has brutally cracked down on its local population. Many local families are having to deal with the trauma of not knowing the whereabouts of loved ones or having loved ones detained or killed, with demands for money being made to secure their release. The Iranian people are a proud people and continue cultural traditions that have existed for thousands of years. They are highly educated members of our community who have made new lives in Australia, with success in all disciplines, and contribute to community activities, including Box Hill’s own Persian Fair. The vast majority came to Australia to escape the regime, and all share the same vision that the Iranian people determine and shape the destiny of their own country.