Philip Ruddock (Berowra, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I want to take this opportunity first to congratulate, if I may, the member for Bennelong. This is an outstanding motion. He gave me some credit, and let me just say I do not think that he needs any tuition.

I see in this resolution the acknowledgement of the strong history of Chinese immigration to Australia over the past 200 years. I relate to that. I was formerly the member for Parramatta and when I saw that Mr Mak Sai Ying came in 1818 and settled in Parramatta, it was significant. He spoke about the significant contribution Chinese Australians have made to this nation over a period of time and I must say that I see that every day through the friends I have, through people I know in commerce, and from the contribution that people make. It is very difficult to single people out, but I look at somebody like Benjamin Chow, whom I know particularly well, who headed up the Council for a Multicultural Australia when I was minister for a time. He has been an example of those Chinese Australians who have made a very significant contribution to this nation.

I know the festivities of the Bennelong Chinese community. I have enjoyed them over many years when they were part of the electorate of Dundas and I look forward to the opportunity of witnessing the Bennelong table tennis match.

I do not know where my family are going to stand in relation to this. I have a daughter who learnt Mandarin at Bei Da, Peking University. She is not the one who has presented the Ruddock family tree with Chinese genes. We also have the Chinese Women's Association, who are currently organising 25 years of service to the Chinese community and the wider community in my electorate—a big dinner is being held this year. There is the Chinese Social Services community organisation which provides aged care services to my community, and there is also the Friendship Association Chinese Table Tennis Club in downtown Box Hill, which also brings together many people through that great sport.

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