❓ Dr. Krishnan asks about the Cook Labor government's commitment to multicultural communities. The Premier responds by highlighting government achievements and criticising the opposition's stance, particularly regarding Senator Price's comments.
AnsweredQoN 422Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Multicultural communities
422. Dr Jags Krishnan to
the Premier:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to building safe and inclusive communities.
(1) Can the Premier update the house on how this
commitment is delivering real outcomes for Western Australia's multicultural
communities?
(2) Is the Premier confident that every member of
Parliament has the same focus on supporting multicultural communities?
422. Dr Jags Krishnan to
the Premier:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to building safe and inclusive communities.
(1) Can the Premier update the house on how this
commitment is delivering real outcomes for Western Australia's multicultural
communities?
(2) Is the Premier confident that every member of
Parliament has the same focus on supporting multicultural communities?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I thank the member for the
question and I thank him for his ongoing advocacy for his electorate and
community.
Mr Speaker, I am proud to rise
today to talk about inclusion. As the very word suggests, inclusion is
something that should not be divisive, and on this side of the house it is not.
On this side of the house, we are committed to building safe and inclusive
communities. It is one of our six priorities. On this side of the house, we
celebrate, embrace and represent diversity. I am proud that our government has
the highest proportion of women of any government in Western Australia's
history. I am proud that our government has the highest proportion of members
who identify as LGBTQIA+ of any government in WA's history. And I am proud that
our government has the highest proportion of members with multicultural backgrounds
of any government in WA's history. The first Aboriginal woman ever elected to
the other place came from our government. The first Serbian-born woman ever
elected to any Australian parliament is from our government. The first South
Sudanese and African person ever elected to the WA Parliament is from our
government. Members, that is because we live in a society where the son of an
Italian bricklayer can grow up to be the Attorney General and Minister for
Multicultural Interests, and the daughter of an Italian orchardist can grow up
to be the Deputy Premier and Treasurer.
Mr Speaker, on this side of the house,
we have a proud history of fighting for inclusive communities. Just this
morning we announced $900,000 to support three major cultural festivals in WA,
including $200,000 for Africa Week, $200,000 for
the Australian Arab Festival and $500,000 for Diwali Mela. At the election, we
committed almost $14 million for upgrades to the Chung Wah Association, the Vietnamese
Community in Australia—WA Chapter, Vaishnav Sangha of WA, Maccabi WA
and the Indian Society of WA, including $2.5 million to upgrade the Indian
Community Centre in Willetton. That is the very location where Senator Price
and Hon Nick Goiran will be tonight for a Liberal Party campaign event because,
and I quote from the Liberal Party, they are "two MPs who are never afraid
to say what needs", what "needs", Mr Speaker, "to be said".
The Liberal Party claims that Senator Price says what needs to be said, but her
comments last week have incited division and anxiety across Australia. They
were carefully chosen words by Senator Price—words designed to spread
misinformation, fear, division and hatred. For the Liberal Party to promote an event
with Senator Price at an Indian community centre just a week after she made those
comments is deeply, deeply offensive. What is more, the senator refuses to
apologise. Today, I call on the Leader of the Opposition and the WA Liberals to
apologise for welcoming Senator Price to WA and, at the very least, to ensure
that the event tonight is cancelled.
To answer the member's question,
Mr Speaker, I cannot claim confidence that all members of this Parliament
support multicultural communities. It is clear that some of those opposite me
do not. What I am confident of is that the members of my government—those
behind me, to my left and to my right—support multicultural communities
and are working hard to ensure their electorates are safe and inclusive. I am
confident that my government stands behind multicultural groups. We stand
behind them. We walk beside them. We will always support them. We send a
unified message to the Indian community in WA and to the entire multicultural
community in WA that you are valued, you are respected and you will always,
always be welcome here.
Government members:
Hear, hear!
question and I thank him for his ongoing advocacy for his electorate and
community.
Mr Speaker, I am proud to rise
today to talk about inclusion. As the very word suggests, inclusion is
something that should not be divisive, and on this side of the house it is not.
On this side of the house, we are committed to building safe and inclusive
communities. It is one of our six priorities. On this side of the house, we
celebrate, embrace and represent diversity. I am proud that our government has
the highest proportion of women of any government in Western Australia's
history. I am proud that our government has the highest proportion of members
who identify as LGBTQIA+ of any government in WA's history. And I am proud that
our government has the highest proportion of members with multicultural backgrounds
of any government in WA's history. The first Aboriginal woman ever elected to
the other place came from our government. The first Serbian-born woman ever
elected to any Australian parliament is from our government. The first South
Sudanese and African person ever elected to the WA Parliament is from our
government. Members, that is because we live in a society where the son of an
Italian bricklayer can grow up to be the Attorney General and Minister for
Multicultural Interests, and the daughter of an Italian orchardist can grow up
to be the Deputy Premier and Treasurer.
Mr Speaker, on this side of the house,
we have a proud history of fighting for inclusive communities. Just this
morning we announced $900,000 to support three major cultural festivals in WA,
including $200,000 for Africa Week, $200,000 for
the Australian Arab Festival and $500,000 for Diwali Mela. At the election, we
committed almost $14 million for upgrades to the Chung Wah Association, the Vietnamese
Community in Australia—WA Chapter, Vaishnav Sangha of WA, Maccabi WA
and the Indian Society of WA, including $2.5 million to upgrade the Indian
Community Centre in Willetton. That is the very location where Senator Price
and Hon Nick Goiran will be tonight for a Liberal Party campaign event because,
and I quote from the Liberal Party, they are "two MPs who are never afraid
to say what needs", what "needs", Mr Speaker, "to be said".
The Liberal Party claims that Senator Price says what needs to be said, but her
comments last week have incited division and anxiety across Australia. They
were carefully chosen words by Senator Price—words designed to spread
misinformation, fear, division and hatred. For the Liberal Party to promote an event
with Senator Price at an Indian community centre just a week after she made those
comments is deeply, deeply offensive. What is more, the senator refuses to
apologise. Today, I call on the Leader of the Opposition and the WA Liberals to
apologise for welcoming Senator Price to WA and, at the very least, to ensure
that the event tonight is cancelled.
To answer the member's question,
Mr Speaker, I cannot claim confidence that all members of this Parliament
support multicultural communities. It is clear that some of those opposite me
do not. What I am confident of is that the members of my government—those
behind me, to my left and to my right—support multicultural communities
and are working hard to ensure their electorates are safe and inclusive. I am
confident that my government stands behind multicultural groups. We stand
behind them. We walk beside them. We will always support them. We send a
unified message to the Indian community in WA and to the entire multicultural
community in WA that you are valued, you are respected and you will always,
always be welcome here.
Government members:
Hear, hear!
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