Natasha Griggs (Solomon, Country Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to speak about a citizenship ceremony I recently conducted in my electorate in conjunction with Australia Day events. Solomon continues to be a place of choice for new Australians with more than 200 new citizens in January alone. It is fast becoming a cultural melting pot, with residents originating from all corners of the globe, bringing cultural and economic benefits to our region.

On Saturday, 24 January, I welcomed 68 new Australian citizens at a special ceremony I held at the Essington School. Essington School students entertained the audiences and participated in the ceremony. The music was performed by Aiyrin Oliver and the national anthem was sung by year 8 student Marcia Dawson.

I would like to put on record a special thanks to school principal David Cannon and his assistant principal Jaya Srinivas for allowing me to host the ceremony but also for providing a fantastic morning tea.

Australia Day is a time for people to come together as a nation and reflect on what it means to be Australian. These citizens were very, very happy that they could wake up on Australia Day as Australians. Countries that they had come from originally included the Philippines, India, Pakistan, China, Sri Lanka, Fiji, France, Thailand, South Africa, Sudan, Nepal, Myanmar and the UK.