Daniel Mulino (Fraser, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Chuc mung nam moi and happy new year—happy Year of the Buffalo—to all of the members of the Vietnamese-Australian community in Fraser and throughout Australia. I was delighted to join a special Lunar New Year event hosted by the Indochinese Elderly Refugees Association last week. Ordinarily, of course, we would have gathered in person, but this year the event took place via Zoom.

I want to thank the IERA for their work in promoting Vietnamese culture and traditions and representing the interests of many older Vietnamese Australians. The IERA and many other Vietnamese community organisations do so much to contribute to the strength and wellbeing of the Fraser community. Many of these organisations over recent years have raised millions of dollars for the Joan Kirner Women's and Children's Hospital. In addition, throughout this last very difficult year, these organisations were at the frontline to ensure that children, families and vulnerable members of the Fraser community were looked after during COVID.

Fraser is a welcoming community and incredibly diverse. Over 30,000 Vietnamese Australians call Fraser home. These are proud Australians, but they've also never forgotten their cultural and religious traditions. Fraser's Vietnamese-Australian community is a shining example of Australian multiculturalism at its best. I look forward to attending the IERA's next function in person, but, in the meantime, I wish everybody happy Year of the Buffalo.

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