Adam Bandt (Melbourne, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

Right now, it's a special time for Muslim communities around the world, including in my electorate of Melbourne. I would like to take this opportunity in the Parliament of Australia to wish my Muslim constituents and Muslim communities across the country Ramadan Kareem. Ramadan is a month of fasting and charity in which communities come together. I have never felt a warmer welcome than that that given to me when I spend time with Melbourne's Muslim communities. In particular, the breaking of the fast at sunset each day is a time when families and communities gather together for iftar to share a meal. Many mosques open their doors to share meals with the community, including in my electorate the Australian Muslim Social Services Agency, AMSSA, the Albanian Australian Islamic Society and the Islamic Council of Victoria city mosque.

Community organisations welcome all members of the community to share a meal. In Melbourne, these include the Somali Community of Victoria; the Oromo community; the Eritrean community; Rabita; the Eritrean Jeberti community; the Islamic Council of Victoria, which has hosted interfaith iftars and a First Nations iftar; the Board of Imams; Community Care Network; and the African-Australian Multicultural Employment and Youth Services. I look forward to once more hosting a community iftar for local residents and leaders this Friday, in Kensington.

None of these events would be possible without grassroots support and the hard work of volunteers. To everyone who is doing that work, I say 'Thank you'. Muslim communities are building bridges and doing the work of building multiculturalism and social cohesion. This time of sharing and open doors is Australia at its best. Ramadan Mubarak.

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