Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Multicultural Engagement) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A dear friend of mine is having a 50th birthday this year. That is the independent state of Papua New Guinea. On 16 September 1975, Papua New Guinea obtained independence. I was fortunate enough to celebrate the silver jubilee of PNG's independence in 2000 whilst living and working in Papua New Guinea, in Port Moresby. So the 50th anniversary—the 50th birthday—of my wantoks in PNG should be a cause for great celebration. I note that the Papua New Guinea Federation Queensland Inc. has a number of significant events in progress, including a PNG cultural day, which will be held in Brisbane on 6 September 2025, and a PNG Independence Day ball to be held on 13 September 2025. I encourage everyone who has some sort of connection with Papua New Guinea to attend events to celebrate the independence of Papua New Guinea.

It's a great feat that PNG has achieved 50 years of independence, and I look forward to meeting many of my wantoks from Papua New Guinea Federation Queensland Inc., QLD PNG Rugby League Inc. and QPNG GOLD Netball Club Inc. To each and every one of those members of our PNG diaspora: you are the human bridge between Australia and Papua New Guine. In fact, I should call you the wantok bridge, not the human bridge, which maintains that precious connection between the people of Australia and the people of the independent state of Papua New Guinea.