Tim Watts (Gellibrand, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yesterday people from across Melbourne's west came together to celebrate the West Footscray Festival of Colours in Barkly Village in my electorate. It was a fantastic success. Barkly Street was closed off for the festival for the first time. Thousands of members of the community packed the village to enjoy the food, music, kids activities and the festival atmosphere on a gorgeous Melbourne day. The highlight of the day was the throwing of the colours, a somewhat belated Holi celebration, that was exuberantly embraced by the entire community. I am still cleaning some of the colour out of my ears as we speak.

West Footscray is home to a thriving community of Australians who have come to Melbourne's west from the Subcontinent. I am very pleased that we now have a local festival that celebrates their place in our diverse community. I want to pay particular tribute to the organising committee for their extraordinary work in making this festival the fantastic success that it was. Sharee Grinter, Pratima Prabhu, Mark Tiwari, Pradeep Tiwari and Sonia Dhillon deserve particular acknowledgement. Some of the businesses who got behind this fantastic initiative include: the Barkly Street Traders Association, West Footscray Neighbourhood House, Bharat Traders, Maribyrnong City Council, West Footscray Library, VU, Bollywood Fashion 'n' Beauty, Aangan, Dharma Circle, Lucky Pet, Nuevo Latino, Krishna Imports, Little Creatures Collective, DIY HIFI, Made in Braybrook, the Chinese Bible Church and the Women's Circus.

Well done to everyone involved. I look forward in taking part in a bigger and better festival next year. I have worn a tie in tribute to the festival, bringing some of the Festival of Colour to our parliament.

Graham Perrett (Moreton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I can't hear you over that tie.

Tim Watts (Gellibrand, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I encourage everyone in Melbourne's west to get behind it. It is a loud tie, but it sends a strong message.