Jason Wood (La Trobe, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Community Safety, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

WOOD () (): Today I acknowledge 12 amazing women who visited Parliament House and my office yesterday from the Afghan, Indian, Pakistani and Chinese communities. They have excelled in business, community leadership and volunteer roles—especially those in the NGO sector. I thank Seema Chauhan from the Federation of Indian Communities of Queensland; Ree Ali from the Multifaith Advisory Action Group Gold Coast; Mina Skandari and Marwa Skandari from the Skandari Foundation; Jessy Kaurah from the Global Organisation of People with Indian Origin; Kathryn Kaur from Rights Respect Independent Connect; and Anna Ruth from Freedom for Humanity. And there were the following from the Afghan Peace Foundation: Tahera Nassrat, Shukria Yari, Adela Omary, Nilofar Moslih and Marwiza Rahimi. I thank Taheri for arranging for those members to attend.

I thank them for highlighting the need for preventative measures and support groups for women and children exposed to family violence. Sadly, this is an issue affecting far too many families right across Australia. Their support is greatly appreciated when it comes to the importance of multicultural centres, and I very much appreciate also coalition members who met with this group. It was a wonderful day, and I thank them very much again for their advocacy—especially when supporting women who may not have English as a first language. Thank you so much.