Members statements
Archbishop Bashar Matti Warda
Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice) (09:41): Last week I had the privilege of hosting His Excellency Archbishop Bashar Matti Warda, the Chaldean Catholic Archbishop of Erbil, with the hardworking member for Greenvale Iwan Walters. Having had the honour of meeting Archbishop Warda in Erbil earlier this year and seeing firsthand the positive impact he has made, it was especially meaningful to welcome him again, this time here at the Parliament of Victoria. He is renowned for his tireless advocacy for religious freedom, for interfaith dialogue and for serving communities through education and health care. We were delighted to be joined by Monsignor Thair Sheikh and Father Mahir Murad of Our Lady Guardian of Plants parish, along with the federal member for Calwell Basem Abdo and community leaders Ayad Youkhana, Walid Bidaweed and Wally Hanna. We all welcome the recent $1.95 million investment from the Albanese Labor government into this community, in particular Our Lady Garden of Plants and St George Chaldean Catholic Parish and Centre in Campbellfield. I look forward to continuing our government’s work with the Chaldean community over many years to come.