Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Hansard source

This month marks the celebration of Lunar New Year—a big deal in my part of Sydney—and just on the weekend I joined hundreds of locals in Bankstown to kick off the early celebrations for the Year of the Horse. I want to thank Canterbury Bankstown Council for putting on the vibrant celebration; the local Vietnamese community for all the work that they did as performers, volunteers and stallholders; as well as the council staff, whose hard work made it all possible.

The Year of the Horse symbolises energy, independence and ambition, reflecting a time of momentum, progress and new opportunity. Lunar New Year is a time of new beginnings, offering an opportunity to honour family, culture and tradition, while looking forward with optimism and unity. It reminds us of the enduring strength found in renewal and in generations coming together.

As with everything in my part of Sydney, while it was the Vietnamese community putting the celebration on there was an invitation to everybody to be involved. Many people who have heritage in other parts of Asia who also celebrate Lunar New Year were there, but also people who don't have a heritage that would traditionally celebrate Lunar New Year were there, as one community, celebrating the Year of the Horse together.

I also want to acknowledge the passing of the former prime minister of Bangladesh, Begum Khaleda Zia, who passed away in December last year. Khaleda Zia was a defining figure in the political history of Bangladesh. As the country's first female prime minister and one of South Asia's most prominent women leaders, she broke barriers in a region and at a time where leadership was overwhelmingly male-dominated. Her leadership paved the way for future generations of women to participate confidently in public life and national decision-making. Whether one agreed or disagreed with her politics, her impact on Bangladesh's democratic journey is undeniable.

In my electorate, I want to acknowledge how profoundly this loss has been felt by many people who share their heritage in Bangladesh. For many Bangladeshi Australians, Khaleda Zia was not just a political leader in a distant homeland; she was a symbol of pride, identity and hope. The sense of loss at this moment among the Bangladeshi community reflects the enduring bond between diaspora communities and their countries of origin, and it deserves to be acknowledged with respect and compassion. In recognition of this significant loss, I formally handwrote a letter of condolence to Mr Tarique Rahman, the son of the late Khaleda Zia, who is, at the moment, Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, expressing my deepest sympathies on behalf of our community.

Khaleda Zia leaves behind a complex and enduring legacy, one that will continue to be studied, debated and remembered for generations. May she rest in peace.

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