Filipino Community

The Hon. A. PICCOLO (Light) (17:40): With Philippines Independence Day having been the celebrated this month, on 12 June, and Philippines Republic Day coming up on 4 July I thought it fitting that we honour the Filipino community who now call my electorate and other parts of South Australia home and, of course, are flourishing. The Tagalog-Filipino community's history began in the 1860s with the arrival of the Manila men, pearl divers from the Visayas and Mindanao regions who journeyed to our shores in search of new opportunities. The majority of the Manila men were Catholic and made strong connections with Catholic missionaries in Broome and on Thursday Island. The Muslim minority were often referred to as Malays. Many married into Indigenous populations and settled in remote parts of northern and western Australia.

These pioneers, who once were only known through the gateway of Manila, have now become an integral part of our nation's history. From a small group of about 50 people in 1975 to a thriving community of 15,000 today across Australia, their journey mirrors the dynamic evolution of the Philippines itself. This growth reflects the community's adaptability, their hard work and their desire to build a better future for themselves and their families. The Filipino community's integration into Australian society has been seamless, yet they are making major contributions to every facet of our community. Their participation in community events, their celebration of Filipino festivals and their involvement in local initiatives all serve to strengthen the bonds between our cultures.

My neighbouring electorate of Playford has the highest population of Philippines-born South Australians, with 909 people, and my own electorate of Light has 167 people on the electoral roll but many more who live in the electorate. These are examples of how the Filipino community has integrated into our multicultural society.

Their presence enriches our community, bringing new perspectives, talents and a shared commitment to the common good. It certainly has enriched my local Catholic community. Many of them, obviously, go to my local church, the Ss Peter and Paul Catholic Church, and I have a good time engaging with those communities on either a Saturday night or a Sunday morning.

Not only do they enrich us with their culture but they also enrich our community through the skills they bring with them and the employment opportunities they bring to this nation. For example, among the community in Gawler there are doctors, pharmacists, engineers and people who work in aged care and the other caring communities. Without these skills at the moment, which we are short of in the country, we would be the poorer, so these people not only enrich our culture and our nation but enrich opportunities in an economic sense as well.

Australia's success as a multicultural society is a testament to the cultural generosity and diversity that characterises our nation. In Australia we pride ourselves on being a multicultural nation, with 30 per cent of Australians born overseas and 10 million immigrants. In the process we have created a mosaic of cultures, with each piece containing its own story, tradition and dream. That is why often when you hear about some of the negativity from small sections of our community you have to weigh up the good things that new migrants bring to our nation.

My family themselves made the courageous decision to migrate from Italy to Australia, and I am thankful that because of my parents' hard work they opened doors for me in this great country. I do not think it is often said how brave and resilient people are in pulling up stumps and moving overseas, especially in the earlier years when there was not much support or resources to assist. Often, when people like my parents left their towns, hamlets or villages for the first time it was to move to a country right across the world.

It takes a lot of hard work and determination to succeed, and our multicultural community has that in spades. Now that I have lived in the Gawler area since March 1963, in that time the community has expanded from a few immigrants here and there to a thriving multicultural community. As I said, even within my own church, the growth of the Filipino attendance has been tremendous, and they have quickly become a major part of our Christian community with their support and contributions through all the activities. They have certainly made our services much more lively.

As neighbours, we bump into each other and talk about how great our local community is. Like my parents and now me, they all seek to give their families a better quality of life, free from fear and violence. The Filipino community story is a shining example of how embracing multiculturalism has contributed to our nation's prosperity and social cohesion.

In conclusion, I stand to celebrate the Filipino community within our region, and across the nation, and I also support upholding the right of every individual to practise their faith openly and peacefully. Let us continue to embrace the diversity that makes our community strong, and let us work together to build a society where every individual can thrive.