Julia Irwin (Fowler, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

The Lao community in Sydney is a relatively small but tight-knit group, many of whom arrived in Australia as refugees 30 years ago. For the past 25 years the community has had access to a Sydney based Lao language radio program. From the start, the Sydney program was produced by Ouphet Souvannavong, who served until retirement last December. Although replacements were trained, SBS Radio has axed the Sydney based program, leaving only a Melbourne based service. Without a regular Lao language newspaper, the Lao community in Sydney now has no means of public access to news and events. This is tragic for this small community. It is a service we take for granted but a lost link for the Lao community of Sydney.

On another note, I would also like to add my congratulations to Mr Hans Blix, former Chairman of the UN Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission, on his being awarded the Sydney Peace Price. Hans Blix was chosen for his principled and courageous opposition to proponents of the Iraq war, for lifelong advocacy of humanitarian law and nonviolence and for leadership of disarmament programs to rid the world of weapons of terror. Congratulations, Hans.

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