Wednesday, 18 March 2026

 Martha HAYLETT (Ripon) (10:07): Over the past fortnight I have had the privilege of attending some remarkable community events that truly reflect the heart and soul of our region. On Saturday 7 ‍March I joined the Ararat community for a beautiful iftar dinner at the Gordon Street Recreation Reserve. It was a night filled with generosity, reflection and the powerful spirit of togetherness that defines Ramadan. We came together not just to share a meal, but to honour the incredible contribution the local Muslim community makes to Ararat every day. Thank you to my friends at the Ararat Islamic Welfare Association for creating such a meaningful evening, in particular Altaf Hussain, Muhammad Hanif, Manzoor Mian, Fahim Ahmad Farooq and Faraz Ahmad.

This past weekend I was fortunate to join a spectacular Holi celebration in Lucas, hosted by the Ballarat Indian Association. Hundreds of locals came together to embrace the Festival of Colours. It was pure joy and a living, breathing expression of multiculturalism at its best. My heartfelt thanks to president Ashish Kakaan, past president Elangovan Shanmugam, vice-president Manoj Khandelwal, treasurer Rakesh Patel, secretary Geetha Stephen and events coordinator Kavita Sangwan. Each of you helps make Ballarat a better place.

Let me be clear: racism and hate have no place in Victoria. The state Labor government stands firmly with Victorians of every faith, culture and background. Our diversity is our greatest strength, and we are committed to building a safer, more inclusive and more secure Victoria for all.