Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2007-10-18 Daily Xml

Contents

EID AL-FITR

The Hon. R. WORTLEY (15:03): My question is to the Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs. What has the government done as part of Eid Al-Fitr celebrations?

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (15:03): Thousands of South Australians have been celebrating the Muslim festival of Eid Al-Fitr during recent days. There are more than 10,000 Muslims in South Australia. Eid Al-Fitr—the Festival of Breaking the Fast—marks the end of the Islamic Holy Month of Ramadan and the culmination of a month of fasting for Muslims. The festival is a period of celebration usually lasting three days. On Sunday afternoon I was delighted to represent the Premier at the annual Eid Al-Fitr Afghan United Association of South Australia picnic in Bonython Park. Several hundred members of the Afghan community were joined by representatives from other communities to give thanks and to share goodwill, food and gifts. This was just one of the many Eid Al-Fitr celebrations that have been organised by our diverse Muslim communities during October this year.

It has become a tradition that the South Australian government host an Eid Al-Fitr reception each year. This year I was honoured to jointly host, with the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, the Eid Al-Fitr reception in the Members Dining Room in Parliament House on Monday evening. Almost 200 guests from about 70 different community organisations were invited to the reception. On behalf of the government, I would like to wish members of the South Australian Muslim community eid mubarak, or happy eid, and peace, health and prosperity in the year ahead. I am sure that members of the council would share those sentiments.