❓ Mr. Krsticevic asks about Deepavali celebrations and WA's changing ethnic makeup and links to South-East Asia. The Minister responds with details on Deepavali attendance growth, migrant demographics, and increased diplomatic presence from Asian countries.
AnsweredQoN 797Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MULTICULTURALISM — DEEPAVALI CELEBRATIONS
797. Mr A. KRSTICEVIC to the
Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Interests:
Could the minister update the house on the recent Deepavali
celebrations and on Western Australia's changing ethnic make-up and its
increasing link to South-East Asia?
797. Mr A. KRSTICEVIC to the
Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Interests:
Could the minister update the house on the recent Deepavali
celebrations and on Western Australia's changing ethnic make-up and its
increasing link to South-East Asia?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question and his interest in
multicultural issues. A couple of weeks ago I, as did many other members of
this house, attended Deepavali functions, of which there were a number around
Perth. Deepavali is also known as the festival of light and it is the largest
festival in India, celebrated by a number of major religious groups including
Sikhs, Hindus and Jains. It is also a major public holiday in many countries in
Asia such as Myanmar, Singapore, Malaysia and others. I attended three major
functions here in Perth. The first was organised by the Indian Society of WA
and was held this year at the Claremont Showground, the second was held by the
South Indian Associations in Murdoch and the third was the Swan Festival of
Lights, held in the Supreme Court Gardens. When I attended those three
functions five years ago, about 6 000 people attended; this year over 60 000
people attended. Indeed, its attendance makes it one of the largest series of
functions held in Western Australia. This is illustrative of the enhanced
multicultural nature of Western Australia and the changing ethnic mix of the
state. As everyone knows, Western Australia usually has had a very high level
of migrants, with 31 per cent of Western Australians born overseas. Traditionally
they have come from Great Britain, Ireland and South Africa, and those people
still come. However, more recently, the largest groups have been from India and
China. Indeed, migrants from Asia make up five of the top 10 origin nations. It
is interesting also that between the 2006 and 2011 censuses, the number of
migrants from China, India, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines increased
by over 100 per cent. There has been phenomenal change. Of course, we all know
that Western Australia dominates the exports of goods and services between Asia
and Australia. The real indicator of strong links with Asia is the exchange of
people. These close links are illustrated by countries such as China, India,
Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia establishing permanent consul general offices
in Western Australia. This demonstrates a change in the enhanced multicultural
nature of our community and our increasing links with our neighbours in
South-East Asia.
multicultural issues. A couple of weeks ago I, as did many other members of
this house, attended Deepavali functions, of which there were a number around
Perth. Deepavali is also known as the festival of light and it is the largest
festival in India, celebrated by a number of major religious groups including
Sikhs, Hindus and Jains. It is also a major public holiday in many countries in
Asia such as Myanmar, Singapore, Malaysia and others. I attended three major
functions here in Perth. The first was organised by the Indian Society of WA
and was held this year at the Claremont Showground, the second was held by the
South Indian Associations in Murdoch and the third was the Swan Festival of
Lights, held in the Supreme Court Gardens. When I attended those three
functions five years ago, about 6 000 people attended; this year over 60 000
people attended. Indeed, its attendance makes it one of the largest series of
functions held in Western Australia. This is illustrative of the enhanced
multicultural nature of Western Australia and the changing ethnic mix of the
state. As everyone knows, Western Australia usually has had a very high level
of migrants, with 31 per cent of Western Australians born overseas. Traditionally
they have come from Great Britain, Ireland and South Africa, and those people
still come. However, more recently, the largest groups have been from India and
China. Indeed, migrants from Asia make up five of the top 10 origin nations. It
is interesting also that between the 2006 and 2011 censuses, the number of
migrants from China, India, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines increased
by over 100 per cent. There has been phenomenal change. Of course, we all know
that Western Australia dominates the exports of goods and services between Asia
and Australia. The real indicator of strong links with Asia is the exchange of
people. These close links are illustrated by countries such as China, India,
Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia establishing permanent consul general offices
in Western Australia. This demonstrates a change in the enhanced multicultural
nature of our community and our increasing links with our neighbours in
South-East Asia.
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