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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-05-03 Daily Xml
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Islamic Community

Ms WORTLEY (Torrens) (11:23): I move:

That this house—

(a) recognises the South Australian Islamic community are celebrating Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan;

(b) acknowledges the important social and economic contribution of our Islamic community; and

(c) congratulates the Malinauskas Labor government on formulating a comprehensive multicultural affairs policy to continue to build and strengthen South Australia’s multicultural and intercultural engagement.

Our state has a strong, proud and richly diverse multicultural community and throughout the year many members of parliament are invited to events to acknowledge and celebrate these important and often auspicious occasions. Ramadan, a month-long dawn to sunset fasting, is observed by members of our South Australian Muslim community that originate from an array of countries, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Bangladesh, India, Iraq, Syria, Indonesia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and China.

The extended fasting that these communities undertake really does require commitment, dedication and sacrifice. The festival of Eid al-Fitr means 'breaking of the fast'. The festival marks the end of Ramadan, and celebrations usually last three days. This year, the celebration was over the weekend of 22 April. During Eid al-Fitr, Muslims thank Allah for the blessed life He has provided them and the strength and self-control His teachers have given them during Ramadan.

The first day of the Eid al-Fitr festival starts with special community prayer and the wearing of new clothes to signify inner renewal after the month-long Ramadan fast. The beginning of Eid al-Fitr is a day when Muslims can make a fresh start and ask friends and family for forgiveness. It is also a time for sharing, when families give food to their friends and neighbours and join one another in prayer. It is a time for visiting family and friends and for giving money and gifts to each other, especially to children.

I have had the privilege to share Iftar dinners on this special occasion in the homes of members of our local Muslim community, and they really put on an amazing feast and welcome you into their homes. On a number of occasions, I have visited homes and been very much included as part of those occasions. They want our community to understand what it is that they are partaking in and to share that with us, and I thank them for that opportunity. I have also attended many Eid events, including the Eid Festival and the Eid al-Adha celebrations.

To ensure everyone can participate in the Eid al-Fitr celebrations, the Muslim community donate food or gifts to those people in need who are not able to provide for themselves. Like Ramadan, the exact date of Eid al-Fitr each year is dictated by the sighting of the moon, a little in the way we have our Easter dictated by the sighting of the moon. Eid al-Fitr traditionally begins the day after the sighting of the new crescent moon.

South Australia's vibrant and culturally diverse society was recently recognised with the launch by the Premier and the Minister for Multicultural Affairs of the first South Australian Multicultural Charter, cementing the path for our future as a proud multicultural state. The charter acknowledges our culturally diverse history and provides principles to promote a unified, harmonious and inclusive South Australian community that value, respect and support diversity.

I am particularly proud to stand here as a member of the Malinauskas Labor government, which had the foresight to bring in this Multicultural Charter. The South Australian Multicultural Charter sets out principles by which all South Australians:

1. Recognise, respect and value cultural, linguistic, racial and religious diversity and the contribution this has made, and continues to make, to our State.

2. Are encouraged to engage in the reciprocal exchange of knowledge and understanding of our cultural, linguistic, racial and religious diversity.

3. Are able to live, work and study to thrive in all aspects of life in a cohesive society.

4. Have the right to mutual respect, understanding, fairness, safety and freedom from discrimination based on their cultural, linguistic, racial and religious background.

5. Should lawfully be able to preserve, express, practice and celebrate their cultural, linguistic and religious diversity.

6. Have equitable access to opportunities and services that support participation in the educational, social, cultural, economic and political life of our State.

In concluding, to the Muslims of the world, to those who have made South Australia home, we welcome you and acknowledge your contribution to our state and your service to our community.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (11:29): I support the first two elements of this motion. The motion recognises the South Australian Islamic community are celebrating Eid al-Fitr marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan and acknowledges the important social and economic contribution of our Islamic community. I will talk more about those two parts of the motion in a moment, but I also indicate that I am seeking to move that the motion be amended to delete (c) and instead replace it with the words:

(c) notes that multicultural policy in South Australia enjoys multipartisan support that helps to strengthen multicultural and intercultural engagement.

I do so because the motion as it stands I feel has an uncomfortable discrepancy between the entirely sincere first two parts of the motion, which are worthy of this house's time and consideration and support for the important role that the Islamic community plays in South Australia and the deeply and intensely spiritually felt relationship that is with Islamic people and the important month of Ramadan.

Celebrating Eid al-Fitr at the end of the month of Ramadan is an important, deeply spiritual moment for Muslims in South Australia and around the world. It sits uncomfortably with me, and I think it should for the house, for the third part of the motion to stand as written as a self-congratulatory pat on the back by government members for government policy in relation to multicultural affairs, particularly when multicultural affairs have always been considered a bipartisan—indeed multipartisan, as my amendments suggests—part of policy.

Multiculturalism in South Australia, as every South Australian Multicultural Commission ambassador to a new citizenship ceremony will tell you, and as understood by people in this house and beyond the parliament, is one of the most successful social policies in South Australia. We in South Australia benefit from multiculturalism—the idea that people who have come to our state from all around the world form a tapestry of backgrounds and experiences and heritages and cultures so that stories can be told and shared with children and shared with each other in celebration of people's heritage. Indeed, in sharing and celebrating our backgrounds, we make our state a stronger place.

Government has a role to play here because of course we have not always welcomed people to this state as we should. Government's role in celebrating multiculturalism, in ensuring that we are encouraging our communities to be harmonious and welcoming, is important and has been important. I think of the pride with which many members of the house celebrated our groundbreaking legislation in the late 1970s establishing the Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Commission. That legislation was refreshed within the last few years with the development of the South Australian Multicultural Commission under improved and updated legislation.

Most recently, members of both sides of the parliament supported the development of the Multicultural Charter set out in that Marshall Liberal government legislation, delivered by the new government to its finality and signed by members of both sides of the chamber. These are all examples of how Labor, the Liberal Party, the Greens and all the parties in parliament have supported multiculturalism and multicultural affairs. Indeed, in terms of the financial support, successive governments have provided generally more money than the governments they have replaced. That is not unusual.

In a motion that is so sensitively worded in its first two paragraphs to particularly pay tribute to our Muslim community and recognise the importance of Eid al-Fitr, that existing paragraph (c) sits uncomfortably. The motion would benefit from removing the partisan element and recognising the multipartisan element because of course the work that is done in multicultural affairs is never just supported by governments and it is never just supported by the parties of government. I imagine all the minor parties and the Independent members in both houses of the parliament would also strongly support the work that is done in multicultural affairs. The idea of excluding their support from this motion by only referencing the benevolence of one side of politics, the government of the day, sits uncomfortably.

I think the amendment therefore significantly improves it. I remind members that, rather than specifically referring to only the government, the amendment is that we note that multicultural policy in South Australia enjoys multipartisan support that helps to strengthen multicultural and intercultural engagement. I mean no offence or disrespect to the mover at all, because she gave an excellent speech. Indeed, what I think she is seeking to capture in the motion is very worthy.

I go on to reflect particularly that the member for Torrens reflected on the time she has spent sharing Iftar dinners in the homes of her constituents. Indeed, that is a privilege that members of parliament on both sides of the house have often spoken of. I think my first Iftar dinner was not in someone's home but was at the Convention Centre—a large Iftar dinner that I imagine many members of the parliament have been to, hosted by the McYess Foundation, particularly supporting Pinnacle College and multicultural youth.

The way in which so many community leaders have been brought into the experience of understanding Ramadan more closely and having the privilege of being invited to Iftar dinner with that group does them great credit. The speakers over the years who have spoken at that dinner about the important role of Ramadan in the life of a Muslim, and indeed in the way the Islamic community contributes to our society, are very worthy. I take the opportunity to thank once again Pinnacle College, the McYess Foundation and all of those who have contributed to that.

The celebration of Eid al-Fitr is particularly noted in this motion. Of course, it is the end of that month long fast from dawn to dusk that the holy month of Ramadan represents. For Muslims in South Australia, as around the world, it is a time of devotion and prayer, of reconnecting with family and friends and helping those in need.

The holy month of Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. It is an opportunity for Muslims to purify their mind, their body, their heart and soul by fasting and praying. Healthy adult Muslims are required to fast each day from dawn until dusk and abstain from drinking, eating, immoral acts and anger.

Our Muslim community in South Australia represents approximately 2.3 per cent of our population, according to the most recent census data. It is a growing community, growing both because, of course, the Islamic community in South Australia are participating in community life; families are growing in South Australia; and families, as we encourage in all of our multicultural communities, are telling the story of their heritage, their history and indeed their faith to their children, and their children in a majority of cases are also identifying as Muslim.

The other source, of course, is immigration. Particularly in recent years increased immigration from countries including Pakistan, Afghanistan, India and Bangladesh have seen our Islamic population grow in South Australia, and we welcome them. I am minded to reflect on an event I attended on the Saturday night most recently passed with the Minister for Multicultural Affairs and about 150 members of our local Sierra Leonean community. Sierra Leone is a country with about 75 per cent Muslim population, about 24 per cent Christian population and a very small number identifying as having traditional African religions.

In Sierra Leone, one of the notable features of the country is the extraordinary strength of the religious tolerance that has long been a hallmark, particularly since independence. It is a country that is 75 per cent Muslim yet where all but one of its heads of state have been a Christian and where public events, like the independence day celebration last Saturday night, traditionally start with an Islamic prayer and the Lord's Prayer, said side by side in celebration of the religious tolerance and in celebration of the culture that exists in that country. It was a real pleasure and a privilege to be invited to be a part of that on Saturday night.

I absolutely commend the first two parts of the motion together with the amendment before the house; I think the amendment strengthens the motion, and it will do this house credit and will do the government credit if it supports it. But, certainly, particularly for all Muslims in South Australia and to our Islamic community, this house today recognises the Islamic community and the celebration of Eid al-Fitr and acknowledges the important social and economic contribution of our Islamic community. This house recognises those two things wholeheartedly and without dissent.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON (Ramsay—Minister for Tourism, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (11:39): I rise to support the original motion. It is a time for us to recognise Ramadan, such an important time for our Muslim community. It is a time for Muslims of all ages to celebrate their faith and deepen their relationship with Allah. We know that fasting and prayer during Ramadan can be a solitary experience, but there is also a great sense of community during this special time. Often, people invite friends and family to join them when they break their fast every evening.

I really want to take this opportunity to recognise the engagement of my parliamentary colleagues here, who attended many Iftar events throughout this time. The Premier attended the biggest Eid al-Fitr event at the Showground. I think the member for Torrens may have been there as well. The Islamic Information Centre runs this Eid, and they invite all South Australians to attend. It is a really exciting event, usually over two days at the Showground, and it was great that the Premier could attend.

I was invited to some events by people individually, to a few homes, to share. I particularly want to thank Mehmet Aslan, who is part of the Pinnacle College team. For many years in a row he has invited my husband and me to join him to recognise Ramadan. This weekend I attended with the Afghan United Association as they recognised Eid al-Fitr, but they also recognise Nowruz, which is something that started at the beginning of Ramadan and so they were unable to celebrate up until the weekend.

I thank the member for Gibson, who attended an invitation with the Bangladesh Club, and the member for Light, who attended the largest Iftar dinner that has been held almost for 10 years in South Australia. Many of us in this house have been invited to that dinner. It is now in the largest hall in the Convention Centre, and that is by the McYess Foundation. The member for Light was there, amongst many others as well.

The Pakistani Australian Association had a big event on Saturday and the member for Elder attended that event. The member for Florey went to the South Australian Hazara Behsood Eid dinner. Thank you to the member for Playford, who attended the Adelaide Bangladeshi Cultural Club event and, of course, the member for Torrens is invited to many of those events as well.

When our community recognises Ramadan, they join with a global community of more than two billion Muslims who mark the end of Ramadan. It is an opportunity for reflection; it is an opportunity to recognise and give thanks for what you have. As a Christian, I see some reflections in my own religion. Whether it is Lent the four weeks before Easter or Advent up to Christmas, you see some similarities in these religions where it is a time of reflection, a time of giving up, a time of being thankful.

We have a very interesting Muslim community here, because it is a very young community. The 2021 census showed that over one-third of our Muslim community here is aged 20 to 39 years. I was able to host, on behalf of the Premier, an Eid event here in Parliament House. At this Eid event, we gave young people the opportunity to talk about Ramadan and to talk about what it means to them. It was really exciting for them to talk about how sometimes it is challenging because, without eating or drinking during the day, you still continue to do your activities. However, it is something that they are committed to. In fact, they feel an elevation in their wellbeing by committing to Ramadan over the four weeks.

As people have said, it is a community of more than 40,000 here in South Australia and that is an increasing community. However, when we talk about our Muslim community, we are actually talking about a very diverse group of people. I remember reading a brief that said our Muslim community come from 62 different countries. We see that history will show us the spreading of the Muslim religion, and then we see that reflected here in our very diverse community. Some of the countries our community come from include Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Bangladesh, India, Iraq, Syria and Indonesia. There are people from Bosnia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and China. It is an incredibly diverse community.

An amendment has been put forward to remove paragraph (c) of the motion, which:

congratulates the Malinauskas Labor government on formulating a comprehensive multicultural affairs policy to continue to build and strengthen South Australia's multicultural and intercultural engagement.

I have a great deal of time for the Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Over the course of our political life we have gone to many events together, so I know that his amendment comes with thoughts about our view on bipartisanship. I understand that, but the reality is that we deserve congratulations, because there was great disappointment leading up to the election when there was zero policy from the opposition about multiculturalism. People were waiting, people had expectations, but there was silence.

As an incoming government, what we did was put a policy to the South Australian people that had a very detailed understanding and acknowledgement about how we needed to progress in this area. The policy was diverse. First and foremost there was an additional $16 million over four years, the highest investment in multiculturalism ever seen in this state. That was welcomed.

Of that $16 million, $4 million was dedicated to community language schools, and I can tell the house that was received incredibly well. We currently have 99 language schools teaching 48 languages. These are primarily volunteers who dedicate their Saturdays to teach language and culture to their children and grandchildren. The additional support for equipment needs and rent goes towards enhancing their ability to keep teachers and support them in doing so.

If you speak more than one language not only does your brain work more quickly but it opens great opportunities regarding trade in the future. For many years, when people came here we said, 'You have to be Australian.' Now we say, 'You need to place equal importance on being Australian as well as your own culture.' Knowing another language, accepting that these are parts of you, is incredibly important, particularly to our young community.

There are many other parts to this policy. We reinstated women's leadership training at TAFE which, unbelievably, was cut by the previous government. We added additional money to both the Celebrate Together Grant and the Expand Together Grant. We committed to making the Multicultural Festival, a festival I believe is the largest multicultural festival in our nation, a yearly event. We also committed to supporting multicultural women as they start up businesses. That will roll out very soon.

More importantly, the policy reflects the challenges our migrants experience. One of the key issues is the connection between migrants and their obtaining work at their level of qualification. It is the utilisation of the full capacity of our migrant community that people spoke to me about time and time again. We are about to do some research on that, something similar to what Queensland undertook in 2018, because we need to maximise use of the skills of our migrant community. It is about stickability. We want people to stay here. They love living here, but we want to have them working in the areas of their skills, education and experience.

I thank the member for Torrens for bringing this motion forward. She talked about the Multicultural Charter, which is very important, but from that also comes the Ambassador Program, which is about connecting. I ask that we support the original motion, because it was a detailed policy and it is being run out right now.

Ms WORTLEY (Torrens) (11:49): I would like to thank all the members who contributed to the debate, in particular the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, who I know has brought so much into the development of the South Australian Multicultural Charter and to supporting our multicultural communities. I trust that for our South Australian Islamic community this Eid al-Fitr has brought peace, good health and happiness. I commend the motion to the house.

Amendment negatived; motion carried.

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