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

A couple of days after parliament rises, Muslim communities will be celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr, and I thought it was appropriate to give the welcoming congratulations now. The celebration is highly anticipated, marking the end of the month-long fast of Ramadan. Eid-ul-Fitr is signalled by the sighting of the crescent moon, and with the final iftar, the breaking of the fast, the night before, families, friends and community make their final Ramadan prayers and prepare for the celebrations the next day.

After the morning Eid prayers, traditionally at the mosque, Muslims visit family and friends, eating mamoul—a sweet shortbread filled with dates, walnuts or pistachios—and drinking a warm cup of tea, fragrant with different spices depending on the region of your heritage. Children's faces beam with excitement as they parade their new outfits. It is a joyous occasion and provides the opportunity for Muslims to reunite with family and friends, sharing stories from Ramadan and sending prayers and blessings to one another for the year to come. It marks the end of a month which many thousands of Australians have dedicated to fasting, praying and performing acts of charity. That is something worth celebrating and something that should be acknowledged in this parliament. Eid Mubarak!