Andrew Wallace (Fisher, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I'm pleased to say that on the Sunshine Coast we're welcoming a growing vibrant and successful community of new migrants. Today we are seeing new residents from an ever broader and more diverse range of countries and cultures. I recently had the pleasure of meeting more of these new migrants through a series of morning teas organised in conjunction with Stella Romagnoli, Caloundra Community Centre's multicultural worker. I sat down with the coast's newest residents at two events at the community centre in Baringa and one in Caloundra. We had some robust and useful discussions about issues faced by new migrants and their ambitions for the future. Already Stella is helping to create an emerging migrant welcome centre group to build on this momentum.

I recently had the honour of joining Arvind Pandit and Dr Vas Srinivasan and many of our local Indian residents for their festival of lights Diwali celebration. I learnt a lot about this ancient celebration and was warmly welcomed by what is one of the coast's fastest growing and thriving new communities. On behalf of all Fisher residents, I welcome all of our new migrants to the Sunshine Coast and wish them all the best for their new future as part of our community.

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