Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I make it a habit of standing up and wishing best wishes to the various cultural and religious festivals that are celebrated around the world. Many members would be aware that in the last few days those whose faith is Islam have started to observe what for them is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, and that is the month of Ramadan. It is a month taken up and dedicated to prayer, to fasting and also to acts of charity. There are shared histories in many faiths of those three things, although I must say the Islamic approach to fasting makes Lent look pretty ordinary in terms of my own tradition.

It is hard to imagine how it can be anything other than good for Australia or for the world to have large numbers of people in deep contemplation, large numbers of people being willing to go without and large numbers of people being willing to act in acts of charity. On behalf of the Labor Party, I certainly wish all of those observing the month of Ramadan the very best.

I encourage all members: if you are ever up late at night in Lakemba over the next month, just turn up. The streets are full, there is goodwill all around and it is a beautiful time. To everyone observing Ramadan: Ramadan Kareem.