Joanne Ryan (Lalor, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Like all Melburnians—and I'm flanked by Melburnians in the chamber this evening—I was sickened to hear of the events that unfolded on Bourke Street on 9 November. Our lively and vibrant city was brought to a standstill at the hands of one lone individual who intentionally set out to inflict harm on and damage the identity of our city by threatening the freedoms that we all enjoy. Like all locals, I was bewildered to learn that someone who was raised and had lived amongst us could be capable of inflicting such violence. Equally, I was perplexed by the lack of respect for human life and for our wonderful community. Like all locals, I was angered that the unforgivable, murderous action of one individual had cast a dark cloud over our broader, proud and inclusive community—a community that was built on and proudly fosters diversity and multiculturalism.

Like all the others who've spoken today in this chamber, I express my thanks and appreciation for the efforts of the first responders. I thank members of the Victoria Police who acted so swiftly and in such a disciplined manner. I add my praise to the members of the public who assisted so quickly and, equally, thank the emergency service crews for their professional response. There is pride in the efforts of these first responders, whose humanitarian instinct in the face of such an appalling act was to help. It affirms the spirit of Melbourne.

And I know I join the Melbourne community and our local Italian community in Werribee, Werribee South and across Wyndham in mourning the loss of a great contributor to our marvellous, multicultural Melbourne story. Sisto lost his life doing what we hope we would all do: going to someone to offer help when they appeared to need it—because that is what our community is all about, and that is what makes me proud to call Melbourne home. Like everyone, it is that fact that touches me and appals me most.

Sisto Malaspina embodied multicultural Melbourne, and his contribution to our community is one that is symbolic of this. Many will have fond memories of the man who, like many others in our community, left behind his country of birth and loved ones to build a new life and a new home in Melbourne. I didn't know Sisto personally. I've probably been to Pellegrini's, but I know Sistos that I grew up next to. I know Sistos who came to our community in Werribee after the war to make a new life. I know, too, that hospitality is a universal value, and I know that, in my community, I can go to modern coffee shops now. I think of Chatterbox in Watton Street, where a young Lebanese Muslim man has created a new place that, like Pellegrini's, serves people daily. It is the heartbeat of our local community. If you want to know what's going on, you step into Chatterbox.

So, although I didn't know Sisto, I know that, like many Melburnians from all corners of the earth who brought their heritage with them, Sisto brought to Bourke Street his proud Italian heritage, as have many others in my community, and shared it with the thousands of customers who walked through the doors of his famous Pellegrini's Espresso Bar. The loss to Melbourne is deep, not just because this individual touched so many lives, as we've heard here today, but because he epitomises the Melbourne story. I extend my sincere condolences to Sisto's family, friends and customers. I express my deepest sympathy to all those in our community who have been touched by this tragedy and hope they, like me, take solace in knowing that the murderous actions of one individual do not reflect our broad, inclusive, multicultural community.

I would end on this note. I have spoken to several young people from the Somali community in my local area, and I want to share with this House that they share the thoughts that are being delivered here today. They feel injured and they are finding it difficult to express their emotions about these events and how they reflect now on them. They're struggling. So I would encourage those who know members of the Somali community to reach out to them to make sure that they are not isolated because of the actions of one deranged, murderous individual.

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