Wednesday, 19 February 2020

COVID-19

Mr FREGON (Mount Waverley) (19:03): (1889) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Multicultural Affairs. The action I seek is for the minister to update the house on how the Andrews Labor government is supporting my local cultural groups in the Mount Waverley district. This evening I was fortunate to join with the Premier, the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events and other parliamentary colleagues in meeting with prominent members of the Chinese-Australian community.

I would like to thank the following people for attending this event: Ms Su Junxi, president of the Federation of Chinese Associations (Vic) Inc.; Mrs Li Zhiying, vice-president of the Monash Senior Chinese Volunteer Service Centre; Mrs Dai Hong, president of the Monash Chinese Friendship Association; Mr Wing Cheong, vice-president of the Waverley Chinese Senior Citizens’ Club; and Professor Charles Qin, OAM, director of Chin Communications.

We were there to show our solidarity with our Chinese community during this trying time. The novel coronavirus has not only had an impact on China but has had an impact on our Chinese-Australian community and our local small and family businesses. In the Mount Waverley district the hospitality and retail businesses have especially been impacted at this time.

I would like to thank also the Minister for Health and my parliamentary colleagues and community leaders for showing their support for our community by their attendance for lunch at the House of Delight in Glen Waverley last Friday. A big thankyou to our gracious hosts, Lisa and Tony Zhang, who put on some very, very delicious food. This is a hard time for our community, but we will get through it and we will do it together. I encourage everyone to come out and eat and shop—we are open for business.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Could I ask the member for Mount Waverley to clarify the action he seeks from the minister.

Mr FREGON: I would like the minister to update the house on how the government is supporting the local cultural groups in my area.

Ms Kealy interjected.

Mr FREGON: Updating is an action, I believe.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: We will clarify.