Tuesday, 16 May 2023

 John BERGER (Southern Metropolitan) (16:53): (201) Tonight my adjournment is for the Minister for Multicultural Affairs in the other place Minister Brooks, and in making this adjournment I pay tribute to multiculturalism in Victoria. In my own community of Southern Metro, Stonnington shines as a bright example of multiculturalism. In 2021, 31.5 per cent of residents were born overseas, from as far and wide as China, India, New Zealand, Greece, Malaysia, America, South America, Ireland and Hong Kong. 8495 people arrived in Australia within the five years prior to 2021 and now live in Stonnington. There were 2797 people who spoke a language other than English at home, reporting difficulties speaking English. 89.1 per cent of the labour force needing assistance were employed, and 10.9 per cent were unemployed. The Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria have identified that certain groups are more vulnerable than others – think financial stress and unemployment, major concerns for temporary visa holders, asylum seekers, refugees and people that are not proficient in English who may have experienced racial discrimination. Multicultural and ethnic communities face additional mental health inequities. That is why tonight I pay tribute to the work of multicultural charity organisations in Victoria and in particular the Sikh community.

Since 2015 Turbans 4 Australia has been helping Australians from all walks of life. It promotes multiculturalism and religious tolerance. Turbans 4 have been at the scene when Aussies needed them most – think of those impacted by natural disasters or those facing homelessness, domestic violence and isolation – and during the pandemic they helped those who could not leave home and those struggling financially, providing nutritious hot meals and hampers. Since 2019 Khalsa Aid Australia has been providing aid to those in need; I would like to mention Khalsa Aid Australia. During the bushfires in early 2020, two truckloads of hay were delivered to bushfire-affected farmers in Gippsland, and during the pandemic 56,528 kilos of food aid was distributed across the country and long-life milk and dry pasta were distributed to isolated families during the Shepparton lockdowns.

The best of this can be shown in Sikh community leader Ravneet Singh Sohi. Ravneet is the definition of a leader who fights for his community, whether it is Punjabi seniors at work, immigrants from Punjab, those with mental health issues or parent visa problems and the Türkiye earthquake appeal. Sikhs first came to Australia in the 1830s, and there are an estimated 126,000 who proudly live in Australia. Tonight I celebrate their contribution to our state and my community. The action I seek is an update on how the government is supporting diverse communities in my electorate of Southern Metropolitan Melbourne.