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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2024-03-19 Daily Xml
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Harmony Week

The Hon. T.T. NGO (15:06): My question is to the Attorney-General. Can the minister tell the council about the national celebration of Harmony Week?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (15:06): I thank the honourable member for his question. I know it is one of his favourite weeks of the year. Between 18 and 24 March, Harmony Week is observed as the national annual celebration that acknowledges the rich diversity within Australia and promoting strengthened inclusion of that multiculturalism. The dates of Harmony Week include 21 March, which is fittingly also the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

Both Australia and South Australia are enriched by the many migrants who live here and have contributed over the years in so many ways to our rich multicultural community. These new shared cultures build on the existing vibrancy and remarkable cultural history of the world's oldest living culture, with Aboriginal people having continuously engaged in cultural practices for tens of thousands of years on this land.

Harmony Week is centred around inclusiveness, respect and belonging for everyone, regardless of cultural or linguistic background. The commonwealth Department of Home Affairs for many years has led the national celebration, which is made up of a series of diversity and inclusion activities right across Australia, including state and local governments in events. Since 1999, more than 80,000 Harmony Week events have been held across the country in areas as diverse as schools, community groups, churches and businesses, and have been facilitated by all levels of government.

Some local events held in South Australia this year have included introduction to Aboriginal art classes run by a Kaurna business and Southern Cultural Immersion in the Burnside library. For anyone wanting to join events in this year's Harmony Week you can head along to, for instance, the City of Salisbury's event on Friday and join in the celebrations of cultural diversity with live music, dance, market stalls and a parade. A panel discussion is also being held on 28 March to discuss the importance of peace in 2024, focusing on the ideals of peace and hope for further generations. More information about events for Harmony Week can be found at the Department of Home Affairs' website.

It is also very fitting that as we start Harmony Week we welcomed to South Australia Little Amal last week, who was a feature of the recent Adelaide Festival, representing human rights and the importance of supporting refugees. The striking 3½-metre tall puppet, Little Amal, made its debut at the Adelaide Festival last week thanks to additional funding that was invested by the Malinauskas Labor government in the state's premier arts festival.

Since 2001, Little Amal has travelled to 15 countries, visited 19 cities and has been welcomed by millions of people on the street. I am sure any members here or in the other place who saw Little Amal at the various events over the weekend would have been struck by the connection that people made with Little Amal. I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy Harmony Week and, as we continue to celebrate Australia's rich cultural tapestry, not just this week but every day.

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