Sikh Festival of Vaisakhi

Ms WORTLEY (Torrens) (15:19): I rise today to speak about a celebration that is very important to members of our Sikh community. The Sikh Festival of Vaisakhi celebrates the birth of the Khalsa, but it is often mistaken for being just a harvest festival or the Sikh new year. Vaisakhi celebrates the foundation of Sikhism, a religion that is cemented on the notions of equality, freedom of religion and community service.

The core essence of the teaching of the Sikh tradition is that all Sikhs must cultivate spirituality while serving the world around them. I have had the pleasure of attending many events with our Sikh community, who are an amalgamation of people from India, Malaysia, Singapore, England, New Zealand, Canada and East Africa to name just a few. In coming days, these dedicated members of our community will come together to commemorate Vaisakhi, also known as Khalsa Sirjana Divas.

In the Sikh spirit, Vaisakhi is fundamentally about community and inclusion, and these values are at the forefront of the South Australian government's vision for our community. Our model of multiculturalism is about inviting every South Australian to express and share their cultural heritage and to support and realise their full potential. Rather than dividing us, cultural diversity compels us to be clear about those things that unite us, such as justice, equality and democracy.

That is why our government remains committed to cultivating people's interest in celebrations such as Vaisakhi and many other cultural celebrations and continues to promote people's natural interest in emerging cultures through cross-cultural understanding. Our Sikh community in South Australia is flourishing. They are very well known for their hospitality and generous spirit. We are very lucky to have such a dedicated group of people who choose to call South Australia home, and I thank them for sharing their unique culture with us.

Over the Easter long weekend, the 30^th annual Australian Sikh Games, which is an exciting initiative that embodies the rigorous discipline of sport and the warmth and spirit of our Sikh community, will be hosted here in South Australia. The games provide a great platform for athletes to be involved in competitive sporting events and the wider community to be involved in what promises to be an exciting cultural experience. I would like to acknowledge the hardworking organising committees for volunteering their time to bring traditional Indian sport to South Australia, to share the wonderful culture and to help develop long-lasting friendships.

The popularity of the games is such that they are rotated between major cities and key regional locations across Australia. Interestingly, I am told that the first Sikh Games were held in South Australia 30 years ago. I am very pleased that South Australia will host this wonderful event this year and that our government was able to assist with the cost of the event.

I am also pleased that the Hon. Zoe Bettison MP (Minister for Multicultural Affairs) will host a parliamentary reception in coming days to celebrate Vaisakhi—an event that holds great significance for our Sikh community. I am proud to be part of an inclusive and cohesive multicultural society where cultural diversity is widely celebrated. On behalf of the South Australian government, I wish members of our Sikh community a happy Vaisakhi.