Legislative Council Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1) 55 1 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Matters of Interest Matters of Interest SA Multicultural Festival SA Multicultural Festival The Hon. M. EL DANNAWI Legislative Council The Hon. M. EL DANNAWI (15:27): Today, I rise to speak on the hugely successful 2024 Multicultural Festival that took place on Sunday 24 November at Tarndanyangga/Victoria Square, which was organised by Multicultural Affairs SA. Over 11,500 people—which was a record attendance—joined the event, where more than 80 multicultural groups participated and represented 60 cultures. Attendees had the opportunity to immerse themselves in different cultures and languages through music, dance, cultural activities and food. It was wonderful to see people of all ages and backgrounds interact and enjoy each other's company. I witnessed many vivid conversations and am proud to live in a state with such great cultural diversity. More than 1.7 million people call South Australia home, with almost 430,000 born overseas, coming from more than 214 countries, speaking 248 languages and practising 128 religions. The Multicultural Festival is not just another event; it is a flagship event where multicultural community organisations from across our state come together to showcase their rich, diverse cultures with the broader South Australian community. We should all be proud of this event, which now occurs annually thanks to the Malinauskas government. This is another election commitment delivered for our multicultural communities across the state. Our state would not be the same without our many communities, and the festival is a terrific demonstration of the community spirit and shared values that make South Australia such a great place to live, study, work and thrive. We have so many values to be proud of. I felt humbled by the generosity of community leaders and members of different communities who wanted to show me around their stalls, welcomed me and offered me traditional delicacies from their home countries. We all know that by sharing food we share culture, we share mutual understanding, and we promote unity and social cohesion among diverse groups. In a world where cultures entwine more closely than ever before and cultural boundaries blur, cultural awareness should be an essential component of our society. This is why this festival is so important. It is the bridge between the various cultures our state has to showcase, and a great opportunity for all of us to understand, respect and appreciate and value different cultural opinions and perspectives. Festivals like this are a product of months of preparation and teamwork, and I would like to congratulate Multicultural Affairs South Australia on another successful festival. I especially want to thank all the participants, volunteers and everyone who joined us at the event—the music, the dance, the food, and art—and joined in the activities on offer. There was so much to see, do and enjoy. A special mention to the leaders and members of our multicultural community groups who work hard and dedicate their personal time to enrich this state with their cultures and languages. I look forward to next year's Multicultural Festival, which I have no doubt will be even bigger and better.