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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-03-18 Daily Xml
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South Australian Multicultural Bill

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 17 March 2021.)

Mr COWDREY (Colton) (16:29): I will try again. I got off to a bit of a false start yesterday afternoon as I progressed my remarks on the South Australian Multicultural Bill 2020. I want to take the opportunity to put on the record my thoughts in regard to this bill and to highlight some of the groups, the events and the communities in my area that do such a great job in this space.

To start, I would like to reaffirm a number of the sentiments that have been made so far through this debate by other members of this place as we reflect on what we are effectively doing here with the modernising South Australian Multicultural Bill. When this act was first introduced in the 1980s, it really was cutting edge and a first of its kind. South Australia has such a proud tradition of fostering and encouraging our multicultural community in welcoming many from lands across the sea, as our national anthem would say.

In terms of the specifics of the bill, clearly one of the key aims is to update the terms and the words that have been used and to refresh the language, which is incredibly important to ensure that we have a modernised piece of legislation that best reflects the times. Obviously, 40 years is a significant period not to have refreshed this act, so it is timely that we do so to ensure that we, as best as possible, reflect the language and words that are used today to describe and are welcomed by our multicultural community here in South Australia.

I would like to very briefly pick up on some of the key points. There was a contribution earlier in the debate that talked about the difference in approach of the United States of America and their view on assimilation versus the approach taken in Australia and here in South Australia. It cannot be more stark. We encourage and celebrate the culture that is being brought to South Australia, rather than asking people to forget everything that has happened in their life beforehand and assimilate into a culture that is not theirs. That is a very key difference and underpins the success we have had as a country: we celebrate and encourage people not just to remember their roots but to celebrate them, and that is very important.

Another point that was made earlier in the debate surrounded the fact that we recognise our Indigenous Australians as the first Australians and that, throughout the rest of South Australian society, many, if not a great percentage of us, are in effect immigrants to this country. A story was told by the member for Morphett a little earlier in the debate, when he referenced going along to a school—I think it was for Harmony Day, but I cannot be specific—and the question was asked: who was born overseas? A portion of the class put their hand up.

Then the question was asked about whether parents of those children had been born overseas, and a larger percentage of the class put their hand up. Then the question was asked about grandparents and an even larger percentage of the class put their hand up. That really does tell the story and help all our generations understand that many of us have come from overseas and that we will continue to welcome many more, I am sure, into the future to our land, this great country of Australia.

In recognising some of the community groups and events that happen or are based in my electorate, there is probably no better place to start than my neighbours. My electorate office is at Fulham Gardens and directly behind it is the Bulgarian club of South Australia, home of the Bulgarian Educational and Friendly Society, which is an organisation that celebrates and really brings to a fore the cultural heritage of the Bulgarian people in South Australia. They are also the home of the Saints Cyril and Methodius Sunday School, and for quite a period of time they have told an amazing story about their forefathers building by hand the Bulgarian club on Tapleys Hill Road.

The original families had come out to Australia and invested in the area. One of the things they brought with them was certainly a work ethic that was unparalleled by many. They are incredibly proud of what they have built and the club that they have. I recognise the management committee—president, Ian Stefanoff; and the secretary and treasurer, the Bennetts—who do an incredible job for our local community.

Over the last couple of years, the Bulgarian Educational and Friendly Society have also introduced the Zdravei Bulgarian Festival. That was actually held this year—one of the very few multicultural festivals that was able to be held, and just about one of the first in the country that would have resumed, given its relative size post the COVID-19 pandemic. It was fantastic not only for me as the local representative but also for the broader community in my area, and the Bulgarian community, to be there celebrating with food, dance and music the Bulgarian community's contribution to our state. To be doing that again for the first time in quite some time I think was exciting for everybody.

We also had the Bulgarian Ambassador to Australia, Svetlozar Panov, who came across to be part of the celebration as well. As always, the Zdravei Festival was a fantastic day, as it is each and every year. Again, I just wanted to highlight the contribution of the Bulgarian Educational and Friendly Society to my local community and, in particular, to the suburbs around Fulham Gardens and more broadly.

Also within the local area the Society of St Hilarion operates, and they are a longstanding group within the western suburbs. When I say 'longstanding', I do mean longstanding. They celebrated their 65th annual feast day last year in October. Each and every year there is a procession and a mass celebration. Every time you go to an Italian festival in South Australia somebody claims that they make the best zeppole in South Australia. I have no reason to doubt that that is in the great western suburbs of Adelaide, so we will continue to think that is so for a considerable period of time, I am sure.

The president of the society, Mr Vince Greco, along with his family and, more broadly, the executive committee, do a fantastic job in organising and celebrating the feast day each and every year. It is not a small undertaking by any stretch of the imagination. Well in excess of 100 volunteers are involved each and every year to help to cook and to help the procession take place. This year was slightly different. In reflecting on that, there was a procession held and that streak was not broken this year.

I remember being informed that, while the Society of St Hilarion here in South Australia was able to hold that event this year, it was the first time in a significant period—I cannot remember the exact date—that the same had not been held in Caulonia, a small town of Calabria, where the original immigrants from Italy who came out were once from. The fact that South Australia was able to hold the mass is significant, and that stretch continues. It is also a reflection of where we are as a state and our performance with COVID-19. I know many reflected on the state of affairs in southern Italy and particularly northern Italy at the time with either friends or family who were in a significantly worse position than we were in in South Australia.

As I have said, St Hilarion is the patron saint of Caulonia and it is a particularly fantastic celebration. Another significant undertaking of the society is that it operates two of the biggest aged-care facilities in the western suburbs. It is an incredible feat that the society has been able to take up within our community. The calling really came from a demographic that gradually aged after having come to Australia.

For those familiar with the area, the home on Henley Beach Road at Lockleys was a steadfast part of the community for a significant period of time, and I know that development is happening there as we speak.

That facility has since shifted to Seaton into a newer, much more modern facility, which of course happens over time. The second of the facilities, the Villa, is in Fulham and is a fantastic area. Again, I just wanted to take the opportunity to congratulate the society on the work they do in delivering those services to their community. It is an excellent thing. It is not exclusive to their community; they also serve more broadly the western suburbs of South Australia in those efforts.

There are many events across my local area. One that happens every year in January, which does not quite get the same attention as the event in Glenelg, but is nonetheless important, is the Blessing of the Waters for the Greek Orthodox community in South Australia at Henley Beach. I was joined this year by the Minister for Child Protection, who came along to see the celebration. The event obviously celebrates the epiphany and the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist.

The event gives an opportunity for the broader western suburbs community to celebrate, to understand and to appreciate the Greek Orthodox community just simply through holding a public event that people can see and be a part of. It was a little bit smaller, again given the context of this year. Vasili from Kidman Park plucked the cross this year, with a year of good luck to follow, I am sure. He is a very good swimmer, if I reflect on that, if I am allowed.

The history of my area has been shaped by several waves of immigration. The Kidman property obviously centred as a large part of that, with the original homestead still being just off the Torrens at Kidman Park. Many in the area would have seen it originally more as swampland, with the original townships of Henley and Grange. Over time, market gardens developed through the Fulham Gardens and Lockleys areas.

Many of the groups I have mentioned were intimately linked to the market gardens and the industries that popped up through the western suburbs. Many of the street names, parks and the like have been named in honour of the families who took up the original work in those areas. For that, we should be very thankful. In terms of a broader reflection, there are also many community facilities and groups through the broader community. I will not go through an exhaustive list.

The Airport Over 50s Club also houses a range of our local community and multicultural groups. The renamed Fulham Community Centre, previously the Reedbeds Community Centre, is home to Club India and Fiji Seniors. As I said, as the future waves of migrants move to South Australia, particularly to the western suburbs, there will never be a shortage of community spaces available for people to come together to celebrate and continue to share their culture with the broader community.

I also want to reflect on an event held on the weekend in trying circumstances, as the wind and the rain blew up very quickly that morning. Originally, Harmony Day was to be celebrated in the City of West Torrens with an outdoor photo shoot with acclaimed and renowned local artist Andrew Baines directing his latest installation. That was not feasible, given the centrepiece of this was a three-metre, give or take, spherical blow-up globe. Taking it outside in 30 km/h winds was not really feasible, so we very quickly shifted into the Sea Rescue Squadron building. We thank them for—at very short notice—enabling that event to still take place.

A range of groups from all across South Australia came together in what was a great celebration of both Harmony Week and the different multicultural groups that make up South Australia. Some of the pictures were incredible; I have not seen the final result, but Andrew Baines was there, as was the mayor, obviously, doing a fantastic job, and Uncle Moogy gave the Welcome to Country and was a full and excited participant.

Thanks also go to Lidia Moretti of the United Nations Association of Australia, SA Division, for her work in organising that event. It is something I will remember for some time. I remember pulling into the car park thinking, 'Is this going to happen or not?' but, as always, we find a way to continue and get the best result possible.

I would also like to say thank you and show my appreciation, on behalf of our side of the house, to the Assistant Minister to the Premier, looking after the multicultural affairs portfolio, the Hon. Jing Lee, for her continued good work in this space. There are few harder workers in the South Australian parliament than Jing, and I think everybody—whether it be the crossbench or the opposition or otherwise—would recognise that she is unparalleled in terms of the work she does. Her positivity and the approach she takes to bringing our multicultural communities together really does resonate, and I thank her for her work.

Without going too much further, I would like to express thanks to Norm Schueler, who is not here today, as well as the other members of the SAMEAC board for their great work in steering and participating more broadly in our South Australian multicultural work. At every citizenship ceremony I attend, just about without fail there is a representative of the SAMEAC board there, and that is a testament to the work they do and their continued commitment to moving multiculturalism forward and improving our multicultural society in South Australia. They should be commended for that work.

Obviously, there are many people who care intimately about that work, and the SAMEAC board members have the opportunity, similar to us as MPs, to provide words of encouragement and welcome to our newest citizens. My father was a ten-pound Pom who came out in the early sixties; I am happy to share his story when I get the opportunity, and I would like to thank him.

The reasons for migration are different and varied, depending on timing, country of origin and a range of other things, but the presentations given and words expressed by members of the SAMEAC board are often so pertinent and so well received by the audience and the people receiving their citizenship because of how real and direct the stories shared are. As recent immigrants and new Australians, the strength of that relationship and the strength of the message provided is incredibly important.

Before I wrap up, it is also a testament to the South Australian parliament over time and to the South Australian people that multicultural affairs within our state has been a bipartisan issue and that we have continued to work together to ensure we provide a better and more inclusive South Australia for everybody—everybody who is here and everybody who will come to our shores, come to South Australia, into the future.

We should be very proud of our history and our future, and the ideals we have put in place will serve us well if we continue to embrace and celebrate everybody who comes to our great state.

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