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PREMIER’S IFTAR DINNER AT NSW PARLIAMENT HOUSE
SPEECH NOTES OF THE HON. VICTOR DOMINELLO MP
NSW MINISTER FOR CITIZENSHIP AND COMMUNITIES
MONDAY 8TH AUGUST 2011 AT 5:15 PM-STRANGER’S DINING ROOM,
PARLIAMENT HOUSE
Assalaam alaykum - Peace be with you
It is an honour to be here and to see our multi-faith community engaged in a truly meaningful way.Ten years ago the whole idea of Ramadan would have been a mystery to most non-Muslims in New South Wales.
Now, here we are in the people’s parliament, at an official dinner attended by representatives of a very wide range of faith groups, and hosted by the elected leader of the state - Premier Barry O’Farrell...
Premier of New South Wales Honourable Barry O’Farrell MP
This is a mark of respect to our fellow Australians who are observing this holy and challenging period of religious observance - Ramadan.
Being here tonight tells me what a privilege I have to be the Minister for Citizenship and Communities in New South Wales because I see before me the success story that is multicultural New South Wales.
I know this success did not happen by accident.
Successive governments in this state from both sides of politics have worked hard to promote, maintain and nurture the harmony we have achieved in settling hundreds of thousands of people from every corner of the globe.
This is no idle boast.
You have only to look around the world today and in so many places you will see societies where religion divides not unites.
Here, by contrast, we live together and we live together successfully.
This is because not only do we respect and regard where we are from, but we even more so respect and regard what brought us here and keeps us here –our beautiful country and her values.
Praise can be assigned to every person in this room because what we have achieved has been achieved together as a community of people with good hearts and strong vision.
Our commitment to peace and harmony, as fellow Australians, provides the glue that binds our society and makes our multiculturalism the asset that it is.
I know we should not rest on our success. Indeed, it is time to take our multiculturalism to the next level as a way of driving cultural, social and economic benefits for NSW.
I believe our diversity can pay even greater dividends.
That’s why I am very keen to work with everyone here tonight -
Muslim, Jew, Buddhist, Hindu and Christian.
In this same respect, I’d like to end by recounting a phrase conveyed to me by members of the United Muslim Women’s Association when I recently visited their offices in Bass Hill.
The phrase is from Rumi, the 13th century Muslim poet and philosopher, who said that there are many lanterns, but that the light from them is the same.
Indeed, we here are many lanterns – but our light is very much the same. Thank you.
Editor-in-Chief Sada-e-Watan Syed Zafar Hussain & Minister Victor Dominello MP
HON VICTOR DOMINELLO MP,NSW MINISTER FOR CITIZENSHIP AND COMMUNITIES
