David Coleman (Banks, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Last weekend I was fortunate to attend the inaugural Sydney Chinese Lantern Carnival on the foreshore at Darling Harbour. The event was a huge success. Sydneysiders were given a spectacular Chinese New Year experience as dazzling lanterns lit up the area. I was fortunate to attend the carnival on both Friday and Saturday night. On Saturday night it was great to have the Prime Minister attend the event. We had the opportunity to walk around the lantern displays and see the impressive lanterns including fish, floating lotus flowers and flying dragons. There were thousands of people there on both nights.

The lanterns were all made in Zigong, the lantern capital of China, and brought to Sydney especially for the event. There were also live performances, music and fireworks to add to the carnival atmosphere. The lanterns are not only beautiful and decorative but they also symbolise Chinese history and culture. Originating in the Han Dynasty, the lanterns represent the light of hope at every Chinese New Year celebration and have come to symbolise family reunion, luck and good fortune in the New Year.

I would like to thank the Australia China Economic, Trade and Cultural Association, ACETCA, for organising this great event. In particular, I would like to thank ACETCA's Executive Chairman, Amen Lee, and Founding Chairman Lam. Thank you also to Robert Kok, Councillor for the City of Sydney, who directs Sydney's Chinese New Year events, which go from strength to strength every year.