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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2025-10-16 Daily Xml
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Motions

Islamic Society of South Australia 70th Anniversary

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Premier, Minister for Defence and Space Industries) (16:03): I move:

That this house—

(a) recognises the 70th anniversary of the Islamic Society of South Australia and its contribution to the state, as the oldest registered Islamic organisation in Australia;

(b) notes the extensive history of the Muslim community in this state, with the earliest Muslims thought to have migrated to South Australia in the mid to late 1800s;

(c) notes the substantial economic contribution of the Muslim business community towards the development of the state, as well as the Muslim community's representation across various essential services and professions, including the medical and other healthcare professions and the education sector, to name a few;

(d) recognises that while the South Australian Muslim community has thrived in our state, the community has, at times, faced hardships and challenges over the years, including racial and religious discrimination, vilification, and prejudice; and

(e) recognises the important role Muslims have played within South Australia's vibrant and culturally diverse society, having helped shape our identity and our proud multicultural state.

Today we mark a very significant milestone for our state: the 70th anniversary of the Islamic Society of South Australia, which first opened its doors in 1955, making it the first and indeed the longest-standing registered Islamic association in our country. I wish to acknowledge and welcome Ahmed Zreika, President of the Islamic Society of South Australia, who joins us in the house to witness this motion, along with committee members and staff of the Islamic Society and the many members of South Australia's Muslim community who are also in attendance today.

For seven decades, the Islamic Society has been resolute in its mission to serve and preserve the ideals and precepts laid in the Holy Koran and the Sunnah, to promote brotherhood amongst South Australian Muslims and to service the community through its social, educational and spiritual services. It has been a bridge between communities, a force for social cohesion and a welcome friend to new migrants and refugees as they build new lives here in South Australia. At every stage of life's journey, the Islamic Society has offered service to the faithful: from marriages to funerals, from mentoring to education and Koran study. It is a haven of peace, wisdom, kindness and community.

The Islamic Society of South Australia has built a legacy of which our state is rightly proud. Of course, the history of the Muslim faith in South Australia goes back much further than the 70 years we celebrate today. It is unlikely that any of the Makassar traders who settled in the Top End in the 16th century ever made the long trek south, but we can be certain that the first so-called Afghan cameleers were a public sensation in 1865 when they disembarked in Port Augusta with 124 camels in tow.

These intrepid men and the hundreds who followed them opened South Australian trade and exploration all over the continent and its Red Centre, and proved essential to the construction of the Overland Telegraph, a service immortalised in the name and route of the greatest of all Australian rail journeys, The Ghan. It was to serve that community that Marree became home to the very first mosque ever built in Australia in around 1861. Our state is also home to an absolutely cherished piece of history, the oldest surviving mosque in Australia in the form of the Adelaide Mosque on Little Gilbert Street that can trace its history right back to the 1880s—we think, to the best of our knowledge, it was opened somewhere between 1886 and 1887.

We honour that history today because respect for faith and the principle of religious freedom is part of the very DNA of our state and all its people. Adelaide is known as the City of Churches, but our city's religious institutions are not unusual in their number but in their variety. Founders Robert Gouger, George Fife Angas and Edward Gibbon Wakefield were outspoken in the belief that South Australia should not adopt an official religion nor assign any favoured status, but allow all to freely practice their faith.

From playing a foundational role in the state's early prosperity to today's countless leaders in business, academia, medicine and more, the South Australian Muslim community is active, visible and resilient. When this community has faced the cruel tides of bigotry or intolerance—and even tragically, on occasion, violence—the Islamic Society of South Australia has been a lighthouse standing tall through every storm and keeping the light of faith and community shining bright. That represents something truly precious, not simply for our state but also for the world.

We live in a time of increased polarisation, with cynics, nationalists and political opportunists actively promoting messages of division and fear, while ignoring what we all share as human beings. We have a duty to vigilantly resist the insidious poison we see being spread amongst some members of even our own community.

Here in South Australia, with over 200 nationalities and over 125 faiths, we have built a society characterised by an unprecedented level of freedom, peace and prosperity. This is no coincidence. Here we see the power and possibility that comes with community, seeing beyond trivial differences to what unites us as people going about our lives as best as we can, driven by the same joys and sorrows and the same responsibilities and aspirations as human beings.

We all want the best for our children and strive to provide them with a better life and a better standard of living. We honour the journeys that brought us here and we want to feel able to look to the future with unbridled hope. We take comfort in our friends and communities and in the beliefs that shape our view of the world, whether that is deep and abiding spiritual faith, sheer wonder at the beauty and the mystery of the cosmos, or both. This has been the work of millions of hands for almost two centuries. We have done that together, all of us, from the oldest continuous culture on the planet to all those who have come across the seas.

On behalf of the people of our state, I want to thank all who have been part of the Islamic Society of South Australia's seven decades of service, and for all that you have done and continue to do for the Muslim community of our state in the spirit of fellowship, family and faith. Be under no misapprehension: the people of South Australia welcome all people of Islamic faith of the Muslim tradition. South Australians embrace everything that multiculturalism has to offer.

I was flicking through a bit of social media last night, which normally is a source of discontent, and something appeared on my feed that I had not seen before. It was videos from artist Peter Drew, who was responsible for those magnificent Aussie posters that we see dotted around not just Adelaide or our state but around the country. I started going through the story. He tells stories on his Instagram or Facebook. It was not TikTok. I am not allowed to have that on my phone. Anyway, he tells stories about the people behind his posters and they are absolutely magnificent.

One of the stories behind one of the posters was of a young man who called South Australia home and who was part of those extraordinary expeditions that opened up our heart of the country to the rest of the world. I was listening to that story and I reflected on it afterwards and it was not lost on me that there is a beauty to the fact that it was a young Afghan man, whose name would not necessarily be celebrated or put up in lights around our country, who traversed with his camels through the centre of our nation from Port Augusta, who ultimately provided a link to the rest of the world in the form of what was then modern telecommunications in the form of the telegraph. It was someone from another part of the world who helped open us up to the rest of the world.

For as long as we have the confidence in one another to see the beauty and wisdom of sharing experiences, understanding the world from other people's perspectives, faiths and points of view, we are always richer for it and we are always better for it. Our state has a history of celebrating that in conjunction with people of Islamic faith. Now more than ever, we have to have the courage to not be forced to exclusively look in but have the hope to look out. If we choose to do that and do it well, I have every confidence that people of the Islamic community and other faiths throughout our state will continue to find comfort and hope in the state of South Australia for them and future generations. The society has helped contribute to that effort. We welcome it, we thank you for it and we hope you will do that for another 70 years to come.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA (Hartley—Leader of the Opposition) (16:14): I rise to support the motion:

That this house—

(a) recognises the 70th anniversary of the Islamic Society of South Australia and its contribution to the state, as the oldest registered Islamic organisation in Australia;

(b) notes the extensive history of the Muslim community in this state, with the earliest Muslims thought to have migrated to South Australia in the mid to late 1800s;

(c) notes the substantial economic contribution of the Muslim business community towards the development of the state, as well as the Muslim community's representation across various essential services and professions, including the medical and other healthcare professions and the education sector, to name a few;

(d) recognises that while the South Australian Muslim community has thrived in our state, the community has, at times, faced hardships and challenges over the years, including racial and religious discrimination, vilification, and prejudice; and

(e) recognises the important role Muslims have played within South Australia's vibrant and culturally diverse society, having helped shape our identity and our proud multicultural state.

I, too, acknowledge Ahmed as president and his executive committee, who are in the gallery today. I rise to support the motion recognising this very powerful 70th anniversary of the Islamic Society of South Australia, which was incorporated on 21 April 1955, as we have heard. Seventy years ago, a small but very determined group of South Australians established what would become the oldest registered Islamic organisation in Australia, which is a real credit to that organisation.

The society has since grown into a cornerstone of our multicultural identity, providing not only a place of worship and community connection but also that bridge and that foundation for dialogue, education and compassion across faiths and generations. The organisation's reach extends right across South Australia and it provides a range of services to South Australia's Muslim community. It manages the Marion, Wandana, Elizabeth, Mount Gambier, Murray Bridge and Whyalla mosques, which I have been able to visit as a member of parliament over my nearly 12 years in this place. I believe 2025 also represents the 50th anniversary of the Whyalla Mosque.

Muslims in South Australia have had a journey that at times has been challenging. It has been difficult, and at various times we know, unfortunately, that many members of this community have faced their own challenges. These experiences, whether overt or subtle, sometimes have been painful, and we need to acknowledge that, but they stand in contrast to the inclusive ideals that we hold as South Australians.

We must continue to confront intolerance whenever it appears and ensure that every person in this state can peacefully practice their faith, express their identity and live free from fear or discrimination. Despite the challenges that have been faced, the South Australian Muslim community has thrived and Islam is now the sixth most observed religion, growing by over 41 per cent between 2016 and 2021.

I recently looked at a short film that noted the remarkable history of the Muslims of South Australia. Records indicate that their earliest presence may date as far back, as we have heard, as the early 1800s. This would soon lead to the building of South Australia's first mosque in 1861, a sanctuary of prayer in the heart of the outback.

Turning to the achievements of the Muslim community, how they assisted in those early days in South Australia is remarkable. I was really interested and intrigued in the history of the Muslim community, particularly in the outback with the construction of the overland telegraph system, using camels to carry poles, wires and water across the desert in some of the most rugged terrain that you will ever see.

The Muslim community in South Australia has continued to build strong families, foster community organisations and participate in the establishment of a more productive state since their arrival all those years ago. I thank the society for always being inclusive and hosting me at various celebrations over the years. I also acknowledge the work of the Islamic Society of South Australia and their commitment to building an inclusive and welcoming community through their social, educational and spiritual services. The work they have done over seven decades deserves recognition, as they have helped to shape the multiculturalism that as South Australians we are proud to celebrate, that we uniquely celebrate here in the state.

I congratulate the organisation on an incredible milestone and also for your ongoing contribution to serving our community and promoting inclusivity. I trust that the next 70 years will be as fruitful as the last. I am happy to commend the motion to the house.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON (Ramsay—Minister for Tourism, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (16:20): I rise to support this motion. I also want to acknowledge members of the Islamic Society present in the gallery today, in particular the society's President, Mr Ahmed Zreika. It is incredible to think about the contribution of our Muslim community to the state of South Australia for more than a century. South Australia has a unique bond with those who follow the Islamic faith, which stemmed from the camel drivers who opened up the state with trading routes.

A mosque was built in the town of Marree to allow these camel drivers to practise their faith and gather as a community. In those harsh, arid conditions, they created a sanctuary to nourish their faith. This led to the Central Adelaide Mosque being built in 1888, which is the oldest-standing mosque in Australia. Our history and connection with our Islamic community runs deep. As much as your faith can nourish you, we know our religious communities are pillars of support in so many other ways. That is why, in 1955, the Islamic Society of South Australia created an incorporated association to be a voice in our community. This incorporated association was the very first in Australia for Muslim people. Recently, I found an article from The Advertiser in 1951, which states:

For 62 years Muslims have been praying [at the Central Adelaide Mosque]. In the early days they were rich Afghan camel drivers.

Today, the Islamic Society has a membership of about 30, and with each new influx of migrants, their numbers grow.

Adherents come from Yugoslavia, Albania and Romania. There are also university students from Indonesia.

From those early days, it was a symbol of many different cultures coming together for one common purpose. What that small community has been able to build has stood the test of time. The entire Islamic faith represents more than 40,000 South Australians today, with the Islamic Society of South Australia being their most prominent voice. What has been vital is the support this community has provided for its members. I look to the gallery and see many leaders who have sought to not only provide a service to the community but also build it up.

The programs that have been supported have ranged over time from spiritual support to settlement services. We also recognise the vital support in areas such as strengthening families, grief and loss, homelessness and financial hardship. Some of the more profound work has looked into youth engagement and intercultural harmony.

I want to highlight some of the programs and cultural aspects that the Islamic Society has successfully led. I particularly want to highlight the Al-Salam Festival, which is the annual peace festival. This event has always been a celebration promoting social understanding through celebration, food and entertainment. On 29 November, the festival is back after being impacted by COVID.

Another program that this government supported is the youth social development project. This project aimed to provide a safe, supportive and inclusive environment where young people can connect with the community, develop their identity and create opportunities to deepen their engagement with it. We all need a sense of belonging and sometimes we need help to find that within ourselves and within our community. The Islamic Society has also partnered with the government through the Building Resilience in Diverse Groups and Ethnicities (BRIDGE) Strengthening Families initiative, the Ramadan Carnival, and infrastructure grants to support the community's growth.

As your Minister for Multicultural Affairs, I want to say that this support is critical because we want to make sure people feel included, to feel that they have a place in our community. As a proud multicultural state, we have always sought to bridge the gap to show that we have far more in common with each other than what divides us. The Islamic Society of South Australia has been a key partner in this. Without their support it would be far harder to bridge cultural understanding.

Since the year 2000, we have seen significant increases in our Islamic population in our community. This growth has stemmed from humanitarian and skilled migrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Pakistan and Syria, and South Australia has always had representation from India, Iran, Syria, Indonesia, Malaysia, Bosnia, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, East Turkestan and parts of Africa. This is an incredible level of diversity that the Islamic Society of South Australia represents.

This significant growth has also increased the community's need for mosques. The Islamic Society has built its community around the mosques in Park Holme, Gilles Plains and Elizabeth, as well as the regional centres Murray Bridge, Whyalla and Mount Gambier. Another essential element is the language schools which now have five locations teaching Arabic to the next generation. These achievements may not have been thought possible 70 years ago.

It would be remiss of me to stand here and not speak about one of your most dedicated leaders, your president. Since 2015, Ahmed has worked closely with the government, not only as the President of the Islamic Society but also as a former board member of the South Australian Multicultural Commission, Ahmed has been a leading voice for the community and for intercultural understanding and harmony. We have had many a conversation about something that drives both of us and that is our young people. I am delighted today to see so many of your young leaders are here with us in parliament to celebrate this motion.

This is your 10th year as president. I also want to thank your wife for her support of you in this situation because it does take you away from the family home and gives great ability for you to continue to develop what is needed. I wish you continued success in your role here.

Finally, I want to thank the entire community. Every time I have been to an event—and I was deeply honoured to come to your 70th dinner to celebrate the anniversary—I am reminded of the dedication of your volunteers and also those sponsors who have established their own businesses and continue to give back to society. It was a great opportunity to reflect on those 70 years and look forward to the next 70 years to come.

The Hon. A. PICCOLO (Light) (16:27): I rise in support of this motion. I would like to acknowledge and also thank the previous speakers. I will try not to repeat what the previous speakers talked about, but I can hopefully add some things to it.

I would like to firstly acknowledge the 70th anniversary of the Islamic Society of South Australia. I was fortunate, like the minister and some other MPs, to be able to attend the 70th anniversary celebrations. That was an event attended by a diverse group of people, both culturally and politically, and just shows the respect the association has in our community and also the way that Muslim people are acknowledged in our community.

The second part of the motion talks about how the earliest Muslims came to South Australia in the mid to late 1800s. It is interesting to note that, in fact, Muslim people had been trading with the First Nations people long before British people came or other European nations came to this place. It is interesting that you hear some debates in public life about how recent they are, because in fact they are actually the very first people who peacefully traded and lived amongst the First Nations people, so we have perhaps something to learn from that experience.

I would like to acknowledge Ahmed and his other committee members. I would also like to acknowledge the pioneer members of the association, the ones who 70 years ago had the courage and the ability to establish that association, and all the presidents and committee members since then. As the minister said, I would also like to acknowledge the volunteers.

A clause I would like to add to, because I think the other clauses have been well covered by other speakers already, is representation of Muslim people in some of the media because I think this goes to the heart of paragraph (d) of this motion in terms of prejudice, hardship, etc., and the discrimination bias that Muslim people have experienced. I would say that when you look at some of the recent reporting and presentation of Muslim people in Australia, it has been unsatisfactory, in my view. In a way, it has been quite a negative influence on the discourse and the political life we have in Australia.

Discrimination, bias and prejudice can come in two forms. It can be quite overt: we can see what is said, we can see what is done, etc., and that is also very painful and something that we need to be mindful about. At another level though, discrimination, prejudice and bias that is covert can be more dangerous in some ways because it happens where we cannot deal with it. It happens in a way that you cannot deal with or respond to. It is not what is said and done but rather what is not said or done that diminishes our shared humanity, as the Premier said.

Not only does it diminish our shared humanity, particularly of the Muslim community, but it diminishes all of us. The reality is when we diminish any group in our society—it does not matter what they are or who they are—we diminish ourselves. A healthy community can deal with differences and change in quite an open fashion. Differences do occur, criticism occurs and there is nothing wrong with that.

I will give you some examples of what I mean by the covert form of bias. It is when points of view are silenced or do not appear in the media. It is when people lobby the ABC to sack people. That is a form of discrimination—the Federal Court has said that—and it diminishes the Muslim community. It is also when the Muslim perspective or experience is not reported. It diminishes those people when you do not read about or see photos of the 20,000-plus children in Palestine who have died. You do not see those. It diminishes that community, it diminishes all of us, and I think it diminishes humanity worldwide. All life is precious irrespective, full stop.

When we do not see those stories told, do not see those photographs, we are saying they are lesser people. That form of discrimination is not seen because it is not saying something, but its omission says a lot more. Its omission influences other people's opinions, and that is why it is important. People do not get the full story. I am not trying to suggest that in any politics or conflict one side are saints and the other sinners. What I am saying is, if you take a view that on one side are all the saints and the other side all the sinners, that is wrong and certainly not part of my faith as a Catholic which I believe in.

When you cancel public forums because you want to prevent another perspective being told—and that has happened in Australia; it has happened recently interstate—we should be worried. The media quite rightly reports on marches on our streets right across the nation. Some of the language I do not endorse, some of the language I do, but when we do not see what happens behind the scenes to stop the other view being put forward, I think we should be worried about that. It is a message to say that there is one perspective and the Muslim perspective is not worthy of reporting, or that we can get away with that, we can reinforce the prejudices, and I think that is wrong.

I can understand people's concerns about migration. I am a migrant myself. I came out in the 1960s with my family. I often have discussions with people in my community, because when I make comments about migration I ask them, 'Are you suggesting that people like me should not be in Australia?' 'Oh, no, you're different,' they say. I say, 'What do you mean I am different?' In the fifties and sixties, people of Italian background, people of Greek background and other European nations, were subject to similar stereotypes, and our perspective and our experience was not told. The reality is it takes time. It takes time for people to build change.

Muslim people of more recent times but even the cameleers showed courage to leave their homeland to work in a nation they knew very little about. It takes courage. Whether it is cameleers or other migrants who have come since, it takes enormous courage to leave your homeland to go a place where you do not understand the culture, language, etc.

Over time, as a nation we have shown, whether its post-World War I or post-World War II, that we have integrated. Italians and Greeks are now part of the furniture. Nobody would even look at us migrants. We are just part of the Australian furniture now.

I think it is important that we need to be patient, we need to be compassionate and we need to work with new communities to make sure we give them time and space to integrate. It will happen. It may take a generation. I have no doubt in my mind that the children of adult Muslims who come to this country will be a little different about their views because they will have had different experiences, and the views of their grandchildren will be a bit different, as will those of their great-grandchildren. That has happened through all groups of migrations.

Change and difference is challenging. It does not matter if it is in the workplace, in our community, in society, it is difficult. But I would like to give an example of change in my own community, in my local church, St Peter and Paul Catholic Church. For a while I did not go to my church. The Catholic Church is not perfect. It is a bit like political parties: they are not perfect and from to time you get bit upset with them. I had not been for a while, but the parish priest was leaving, so I thought it is important to say, 'Thank you for you service,' and I went to church. I had not been for a while. In that time I had not been, a whole range of new communities had come to my church—people from Africa, India, Asia, the Philippines, etc.

What I can tell you is that it has changed my church for the better. It has revitalised, reinvigorated a church that was declining, like a lot of churches. Even though we are all of the same faith, they bring new cultural perspectives. They bring a new sense of enthusiasm about life, and they do integrate through their church in the same way the Muslim community will integrate through business, the professions—you name it, there will be integration over time. At a superficial level, when we have singing in our church now, it is heaven on earth. Some of the voices I hear now are just magnificent. The fact we are actually are bound by faith is almost incidental; it is community coming together.

We have shown, over time, we can learn from more recent migrants, in the same way during the seventies we understood—and I say the seventies because I was a young adult then—the Asian migration. Initially, they were less welcome. Now they are part of the furniture—they are our doctors, our pharmacists, our engineers, our nurses, our carers, etc. We have done this before and I have no doubt we can actually do it again and enrich our multicultural society. Again, I would like to thank the Muslim community for being part of it.

The ACTING SPEAKER (Ms Stinson): Before I recognise the member for Elder, hopefully the house will indulge me for a moment from the chair to express my support for the sentiments that have been spoken about today. I am incredibly lucky that the Marion mosque is right on the edge of my electorate, and that has given me the great privilege of getting to know Mr Zreika, and also quite a few members of the Muslim community who I am lucky enough to have in my electorate of Badcoe.

Of course, like other members here, I have been well aware of the difficulties in recent times and the challenges that you have experienced and will continue to experience as we come out of difficult times in the Middle East. So I just want to express my thoughts to you and thank you again for gracing us with your presence here today. I think we have a visit locked in soon so that I can bring my little baby along to the mosque and introduce him to so many people who have been so welcoming towards me, and I look forward to that.

I also want to note the contribution of the member for Light—Light by name and light by nature. The member has advocated the cause not only in the last year or two while things have been tense but certainly for decades, particularly within our party and also throughout our community. He deserves great thanks and praise for sometimes being a voice among few, advocating for what sometimes might have been considered controversial views in the past. But it is nice to be in a place now where I think there is incredibly broad support in our community for the Muslim community, and I hope you are feeling that today. My neighbouring MP, the member for Elder, I look forward to hearing what you have to say as well.

Ms CLANCY (Elder) (16:41): I do just want to stand and make a contribution as well. Happy 70th birthday and As-salamu alaykum. It is really lovely to see so many of you in the gallery today. There has been a lot spoken about the contribution of the society to the Muslim community, and the South Australian community more broadly, and I am so conscious of how much of an impact the society and Ahmed have made on me over the last few years, so I cannot even begin to imagine the incredibly positive contribution you have made to so many other people's lives, particularly directly in your community.

One of the first events that I went to at the mosque was in 2019, and it was to mark the horrific attacks in Christchurch. Seeing the society and seeing many of you who are here today choosing to come together at a time of incredible grief and welcome so many other people from the community as well so that we could all stand together against that hateful and horrific act was really powerful to me and I want to thank you for having done that. I know that you do these things under really difficult circumstances again and again, so thank you for your perseverance.

Thank you for what you have done, particularly over the last couple of years with the horrific acts happening in Gaza. I appreciate you welcoming me to speak at the commemoration last year as well. Thank you for always not just welcoming members of your community but always making me feel really included and really welcome in your conversations. I have always felt really comfortable asking questions. You welcome my inquisitiveness; you have never made me feel like any of my questions are stupid—and they probably have been—so thank you.

Thank you for making me feel really welcome and making me feel like your society is a place where I am not just tolerated but well and truly welcomed. I thank you so much for everything you do for your community and beyond. I just want to say that the contribution you have made just to my life in the last six years has been immense, so thank you for what your society has done over the last 70 and will continue to do.

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD (Reynell—Minister for Child Protection, Minister for Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence, Minister for Women) (16:44): As-salamu alaykum. It is wonderful to see you all here together. Thank you so very much for spending time with us to mark this really important occasion. Thank you also for ensuring that the Islamic Society of South Australia continues to stand as an enduring cornerstone and place of connection for the Muslim and broader community in South Australia.

As we have heard from a number of speakers, this year your outstanding organisation marks its 70th anniversary. That is a remarkable milestone, a milestone that speaks to the courage, the strength, the foresight of those who have initiated, grown and sustained this society over the past seven decades. As you know very well, it was established in 1955 as a not-for-profit welfare organisation. I understand it is recognised as the oldest Islamic society in Australia, with its history tracing back long before that date in 1955.

Your organisation has, I understand, evolved from a small community group into now a multilayered organisation that is absolutely there for people and communities: managing infrastructure, managing mosques, providing essential services and support, always advocating and living the values of inclusion and social justice, all while always fostering intercultural harmony and kindness. I strongly believe that our state's greatest strength is our cultural diversity. The Islamic Society of South Australia is an exemplary contributor to that rich and strong tapestry and fabric of our culturally diverse state, with your mission deeply connected to building a more inclusive Australia.

Your society strongly believes in nurturing intercultural relationships, as Minister Bettison spoke about, mentoring young Muslims to become leaders and offering a broad spectrum of social, educational and spiritual services. This vision is reflected in all that you do: in the society's commitment to welfare, education and engagement and its commitment to ensuring that Muslims can thrive here as connected and active participants in every aspect of life in our state. I think that the society exemplifies the principles of charity and community support, making the centre such a vital place for both local and newly arrived Muslims.

As a member of parliament and also as a former shadow minister for multicultural affairs, I feel really blessed to have had the honour of engaging with a number of society representatives, including many here, in different ways and at a number of different events. I am deeply grateful to have always been welcomed and to have been generously given multiple opportunities to learn through deep conversation and reflection.

One of your core functions is, as I said, managing infrastructure and overseeing several mosques. These facilities, of course, serve as places of worship but also as places of connection and learning for Muslims and our wider community. Beyond worship, the society facilitates visits and tours for schools, diverse faith groups and individuals. You provide such insight into rituals, prayer and the faith more broadly. These tours are often really generously followed by Q&A sessions, sessions that always promote understanding, reduce misconceptions and always bring us together.

In recent years, as the member for Elder and the member for Light have just spoken about, you have been so active—beautifully active—in advocacy, particularly amid global and local issues. The last 25 years or so, or even longer, have seen many Muslims across the planet sometimes subjected to really unfair and unjust characterisations and criticisms. Your society has courageously stood as a beacon of faith, hope, inclusiveness and support for Muslims and non-Muslims alike, and always for peace.

As South Australia's Muslim population grows, the society's role in fostering unity remains so utterly crucial, embodying the spirit of service that has defined it for seven decades. I really thank everybody who has been involved in the society for that service, for being there for people, for always focusing on unity, understanding, love and humanity, and for strengthening the very fabric of our broad human family and our state in ways that make a difference in people's lives. Alf Mabrouk.

Motion carried.

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