Wednesday, 1 April 2026

 Steve McGHIE (Melton) (10:55): I rise to acknowledge that last week we celebrated Cultural Diversity Week and the extraordinary diversity of the Melton electorate. It reminds us that culture does not divide us, it connects us, and in Melton we see that lived out every single day. Across our community people from all corners of the world have made Melton home. They bring with them language, food, faith, music and traditions, but more importantly, they bring a spirit of generosity and inclusion that strengthens our whole community. We see it in the many different cultural festivals and celebrations held right across Melton, events that are not closed off and exclusive but open – open to neighbours, open to newcomers and open to anyone who wants to learn, share and be part of something bigger. What stands out in Melton is this: our multicultural communities do not just celebrate their own cultures, they actively welcome others into them. They cook for each other, support each other and show up for each other. That is what real community looks like. While there are always voices – often loud and sometimes from behind a screen – that try to tell a different story about diversity, in Melton we know the truth. We see the reality, and we live it. We see that diversity is not something to fear, it is something to be proud of.