Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

Multiculturalism is one of Australia's greatest assets. It is something the western half of my Riverina electorate is built upon. It is important that we as a parliament acknowledge this as one of our nation's strengths. I commend the committee and I note the presence in the chamber of the member for Makin, who sat on the committee which produced this report, Inquiry into Migration and Multiculturalism in Australia. The committee was chaired by the member for Calwell. I commend the committee on its report into migration and multiculturalism in Australia. The report we are discussing tonight has 32 recommendations which seek to highlight what Australia is doing well and where we can improve.

These recommendations range from the antiracism framework and multiculturalism to religious diversity and the nation's social inclusion agenda. The coalition supports these recommendations and working with communities to ensure Australia remains a vibrant and inclusive multicultural society. Multiculturalism is vital and is something we must continue to support, but the cost of implementing programs is something that requires restraint from the government.

In my electorate the city of Griffith is a great example of a multicultural community. At Griffith High School, where I recently visited to award my Anzac writing competition certificates and a prize, there are many different ethnicities and nationalities. One hundred flags proudly fly at Griffith's annual Australia Day ceremony. An article in this morning's Area News highlights that immigration figures have more than doubled in Griffith over the past 12 months as migrants choose the lifestyle Griffith and surrounds offers. A citizenship ceremony in Griffith just last week highlighted that some 148 new migrants have moved to the city, an increase from 61 in the period of 2011-12.

As an irrigation community established prior to World War I, Griffith is now a proud city. The Murrumbidgee irrigation area is built on migration, multiculturalism and water. Today, Griffith and surrounds has a population of 27,000 and encompasses people from many nationalities and ethnicities, with Italian, Indian, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern and Sudanese populations well represented. Most recently, the Filipino population is growing the most. With each of these communities comes a range of skilled and unskilled workers who make the Murrumbidgee irrigation area's economy prosper further.

Mr Deputy Speaker Windsor, I know you visited Griffith. You were very welcomed there. You would have noticed the number of different nationalities. You would have also noticed the vibrancy that city has and the important part it plays in our economy and our nation. I am sure, Mr Deputy Speaker, you will be welcomed back anytime, because—

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