Wednesday, 1 April 2026

 Iwan WALTERS (Greenvale) (10:57): Last Sunday it was a privilege to join thousands of Assyrian Victorians in Craigieburn to celebrate Kha b-Nisan, Assyrian New Year 6776. It was a powerful expression of family, faith, culture and history. The Premier’s attendance marked an historic first, and her announcement of a $10 million investment towards St Joseph’s Christian college was a truly significant moment. It brings Victoria’s first Assyrian school much closer to reality, and only Labor is financially committed to delivering Victoria’s first Assyrian school. I thank the Premier, the Deputy Premier and Minister of Education and my local colleagues Minister Erdogan, Minister Spence and the member for Broadmeadows for their joint commitment to this important project. We stand firmly behind the St Joseph’s project, as we always have, and this $10 million commitment brings it so much closer. It matters for Assyrian families across Victoria, and it stands as a symbol of our collective commitment as the Victorian Labor government to religious freedom and to ensuring that Assyrian language, culture and faith thrive in our state for generations to come.

I thank His Grace Mar Benyamin Elya for his steadfast leadership, partnership and resilience. St Joseph’s will be more than a school; it will stand as a pillar of identity, preserving language, faith and culture for future generations. Above all, it represents our commitment to multicultural and faith communities in Melbourne’s north and ensures a strong future for the Assyrian community in Greenvale.