Adjournment
Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Water, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Equality) (17:22): I move:
That the house do now adjourn.
Multicultural festivals and events program
Michael GALEA (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (17:22): (448) I raise a matter for the Minister for Multicultural Affairs in the other place, and the action that I seek is that the minister support the applications made by multicultural organisations in my electorate that are seeking funding to assist in the organisation of events. As the minister is aware, the South-Eastern Metropolitan Region is one of the most multicultural regions in the state. An example is the local government area of Greater Dandenong, where the majority of residents were born overseas. Out of approximately 160,000 residents, the majority of the 95,000 who came from overseas came from non-English-speaking countries. Approximately 2700 people arrive from overseas each year into Greater Dandenong, with many arriving as refugees. The council is a refugee welcome zone, and this week, as we all do, they will be celebrating Refugee Week with a variety of events underway. Many Refugee Week events are funded by the multicultural festivals and events funding. In the City of Casey approximately 130,000 of the 350,000 residents were born overseas, speaking 140 different languages, and they include a large number of refugees. It is also home to one of the largest populations of Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander people in metropolitan Melbourne.
Multicultural events and festivals are a very important and special part of our south-east community, often celebrating a historic, significant or sentimental date or event. Community members take pleasure in being able to share these events with friends and family, being connected by culture and friendship. To Australian-born residents these events provide wonderful opportunities to learn about other cultures, customs and traditions. The multicultural festivals and events program is contributing funds to 346 Victorian organisations this year, sharing in over $1.3 million of funding. Again I ask the Minister for Multicultural Affairs to support the applications of our multicultural organisations in the South-Eastern Metropolitan Region.