Sally Sitou (Reid, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, or Harmony Day, is a day for us to do two things. It's a day to recognise the part we all play in stamping out racism and in building social cohesion in our communities. It's also a day to celebrate our wonderful multicultural society, and my electorate is a wonderful example of that diversity. Just over half the residents of the electorate of Reid were born overseas. They speak more than 149 different languages, including Chinese, Korean, Nepali, Arabic, Italian, Tamil, Hindi and Greek. They come from different backgrounds and cultures, but they've all decided to call Australia home and have chosen to live in the electorate of Reid.

I want to welcome people from all backgrounds to our community. That's why I'm hosting a great Aussie barbecue on Saturday 4 May at the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway. It's a chance for new citizens and people who have just moved into the area to get to know their neighbours by coming together for a barbecue. I want to thank the Rotary Club of Concord for helping with the barbecue and the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway for hosting us and providing a talk on Australia's history at Kokoda. If you're new to the area, please join me and other members of the community for a sausage sizzle and a chat.