Sada-e-Watan
Sydney ™
sadaewatan@gmail.com
SUB CONTINENT COMMUNITY PROMOTED AT THE ALP CONFERENCE IN SYDNEY TOWN HALL
[Coverage by: Syed Zafar
Hussain]
"At the recent conference of the New South Wales Branch of the Australian Labor Party the Sub Continent Friends of Labor had a pleasure and the privilege to be asked to host a fringe programme on any topic we wished" said Harish Velji the Chairperson of the Sub Continent Friends of Labor.
"We took this opportunity to promote the Sub Continent Community in Australia by selecting a topic that would best describe our contribution to Australia."
"We earlier in
the day had members of our team Ejaz Khan, Moninder Singh, Nur Rahman and
Prabjhot Sandhu met up with the Minister of Immigration Hon Chris Bowen and the
Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities Hon
Tony Burke to discuss various topics that affect our community."
Mr Ejaz Khan said "As far as the Sub Continent community is concerned the
parents of our community play very vital and important role in our daily lives."
"For that reason we impressed upon on the Minister that changes be brought about to the parents visa system so that one does not have apply to regular basis but be issued to cover a number of years with some caveats."
Former
Secretary of United India Association Moninder Singh and a member of Sub
Continent Friends of Labor said that it was important that the Federal
Government look at the ways it can find to overcome the problems the
international students who are here already find themselves as a result of the
changes to the visa system introduced last year.
"Many students have spent large amounts of money to come here only to find the
visa system being changed half way through."
"We appealed to the Minister for Immigration for a pathway for these students."
Prabajot Sandhu
said that there has been a dramatic decline of the international students coming
to Australia and that has affected lots of our community members who were
genuine education providers.
“These education providers have invested lots of money.”
"We urged the minister that ways and means is found to restore the confidence
with international students so that the genuine local schools do survive these
difficult times."
"We were highly
impressed with Hon. Tony Burke as he listened to our views when we explained to
him how our community holds dear to the mother earth, plants, air, sun etc.to on
every day leaving" said Nur Rahman.
"We spoke about the importance of Carbon Emission Tax in relation to these
issues."
Harish Velji the Chairperson of Sub Continent Friends of Labor said we appreciated the time given to our group by the Ministers and how seriously they took our views.At least 80 people participated in the fringe program.
"According to many that our program on the contribution of the Sub Continent Community Australia was not only the best attended but most informative" said Harish Velji.
"We are
thankful to Neville Roach OA, Dr Javed and Hon Nathan Rees who spoke on the
subject and were informative."
"Neville Roach covered on the economic contribution of our people and Dr Javed
impressed upon the audience how the medical system would not survive without our
doctors."
"Nathan Rees who is regarded as 'one of us' by our community was also very well
received.”
“We did not
expect the Leader of Opposition Hon John Robertson to be present but he made a
surprise appearance and stayed for over an hour for the function.”
"As NSW Opposition Leader, it was my great honour to join members of the
Subcontinent Friends of Labor at the ALP State Conference fringe event" said Hon
John Robertson.
"It was great to see so many familiar faces at the event and to see the
Subcontinent Friends of Labor taking such an active role in debates and
discussions over the weekend.
"As usual, Mr Roach and Dr Javed gave some excellent insights into the Indian Subcontinent community in NSW and I thank them and the organisers for such a wonderful event."
Federal Member
for Greenway Michelle Rowland said " It was an absolute privilege to be able to
MC this year’s Sub Continent Friends of Labor fringe event, which explored the
invaluable contribution of the Sub Continent community to the Australian way of
life.
"As the Federal Member for Greenway, I am privileged to represent a very
multicultural community, and I am extremely appreciative of the contribution
that members of the Sub Continent community make to the overall strength of the
electorate of Greenway."
"This fringe event reinforced the fantastic contribution of our Sub Continent friends across a range of fields and highlighted just how important the Sub Continent community is to the medical fraternity, to the economy and to the overall fabric of the Australian community."
"This year, for
the first time ever, an important and invaluable part of the NSW State
Conference was the fringe program hosted by the Subcontinent Friends of Labor
group said Ed Husic Member for Chiefly
"The program provided a crucial insight into the contribution of the
Subcontinent community to Australia, particularly across the economic, cultural,
political and business landscapes."
"It identified
the challenges and opportunities ahead as we work together to promote cultural
cohesion and economic development within and beyond the Subcontinent
communities."
"The Subcontinent Friends of Labor group has been tirelessly working to advance
the party’s aims, particularly during the last NSW State and Federal Elections."
"I congratulate the Subcontinent Friends of Labor group and look forward to working closely with them on our mutual interests, shared values and continued commitment to their communities, and the broader Australian society."
Hon.Michelle Rowland Neville Roach
Dr. Shaukat Javed
Hon. Nathan Rees
