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Hon Kate Lundy,Mr.Harish Velji &Hon John Robertson

Sub Continent Friends of Labor Annual Dinner for Sub Continent Media in Sydney
(Coverage by: Syed Zafar Hussain)

On Friday, 4 Nov 2011, Sub Continent Friends of Labor organised its second annual dinner with Sub Continent Media at Himalaya Restaurant Granville Sydney.This function once again was a great success with over 85 people participating. Amongst the Parliamentary guests were:

Hon Kate Lundy- Parliamentary Secretary to Prime Minister and Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration and Multi Cultural Affairs , Hon John Robertson Leader of Opposition, Former Premier Hon Nathan Rees, Hon Michael Daley Shadow Minister for Finance , Hon Barbara Perry Shadow Minister for Ageing and Disability Services,, Hon Amanda Fazio _Opposition Whip, Hon Andrew McDonald Shadow Minister for Health and Medical research, Robert Furolo - Shadow Minister Roads and Ports, Shaoquett Moselmane,Hon.Michelle Rowland and Deborah O'Neil.

Both the key note speakers Senator Kate Lundy and John Robertson emphasised the great support and believe for the Multicultural Community the Federal Government has and also the state Labor Party.

Hon Nathan Rees who was the MC for the evening highlighted some of the achievements by the former Labor state government.He also introduced the Sub Continent Friends of Labor members who were present, Ejaz Khan, John Niven, Balraj Sangha, Mukesh Maru, Balaji Venketaranghan, Pravez Khan, Moninder Singh, Mandir Sandha and Jay Hosur.

Michelle Rowland Said "This event is important for Members of Parliament to better understand how to communicate with, and through, the Sub-Continent media.The representatives in attendance each have experience communicating with the most populated region in the world, be they from the various Indian, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Nepalese or Sri Lankan communities.  We therefore appreciate their expertise in how we can best connect with our own constituencies.""

" It is also imperative that we, as public office holders, recognise our relationships are based not only in sport, shared democratic aspirations, cultural or economic.  As the Prime Minister has stated on many occasions, we must move from words to deeds."

" I therefore welcome the dialogue we are developing on significant policy issues including uranium, immigration and education.  It is by our networking with and through the various media channels represented here this evening that we gain an understanding of how our Sub-Continent communities feel about these and other matters, and how we should best respond and represent their interests in Parliament. "said Member for Greenway Michelle Rowland.

Harish Velji Chairperson of the Sub Continent Friends of Labor said "Our access to each of the State New South Wales Labor Party Member of Parliamentarians and also with the Labor Party Head Office has been unprecedented. "

"We wish to acknowledge our State Party leader Hon John Robertson, Hon Nathan Rees , Hon Peter Primrose and Shaoquett Moselmane for holding a regular meetings with our group to take account of the views of the Sub Continent Community."

"As one of the Sub Continent media person few weeks ago pointed out to me that in his twenty years of being involved in the media he has never seen such a close working with our community and any of the Federal Government as now."

"We also take this opportunity to deeply acknowledge, the great work done by the our first time members of the Federal Parliament, Ed Husic Member for Chiefly and in particular Michelle Rowland Member for Greenway who have taken the relationship between the Sub Continent Community and the Federal Government to great un precedent heights."

"This relationship that Michelle Rowland and Ed Husic have taken to this new heights have taken has not happened by accident but because it is from their heart they have this undisputed dedication and support for the sub continent community.

"The same can be said of Senator Matt Thistlewaite and Senator Lisa Singh who joined the senate in July this year."

"Sub Continent Friends of Labor has been working extremely closely with the Federal Government and in particular Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Hon Chris Bowen, Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities Hon Tony Burke and of course Senator Kate Lundy."

"Australia’s policy of selling only to signatories of NPT (Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty) is redundant and needs to be relooked to allow full potential in strategic partnership. "

"As one put it "should India pursue nuclear energy to solve its crippling energy shortage? Or should it stumble along, uncertain about the alternatives and keeping 40% of its people in the dark?"

"The other issue that has been highlighted a lot recently is that of war crimes in Sri Lanka. Sub Continent Friends of Labor strongly believes that there is a need for the issues raised to be investigated by the International War Crimes Tribunal. "

"The issue of Fiji will remain a challenge and I must stress that it is upsetting our community in Australia in the manner the manner the Federal Government has handled this issue and has jumped blindly for the notion of democracy which did not exist for the 50% of the people even prior to the coup. "