Thursday, 5 February 2026

 Ann-Marie HERMANS (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (10:09): It is a great honour to co-host the annual parliamentary celebration of Thai Pongal at Victorian Parliament House. Thai Pongal of course is the festival of thanksgiving of nature. It is one of the most important festivals to the Tamil community, and it is a great privilege and honour to celebrate alongside them. There are many Tamils that live in this nation, and they come from very diverse backgrounds. I am very pleased to have so many of them in the South-Eastern Metropolitan region where I live.