Tim Wilson (Goldstein, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

This is the time of year for hope. Passover tells the story of liberation of a people freed from slavery in Egypt, and, of course, Easter and Passover are inextricably linked. The Last Supper was a Passover Seder, and Christ's crucifixion took place during the Passover festival. This is a powerful reminder of not just the Jewish tradition but also the Christian tradition, and they did not emerge in isolation. They are bound together by history, by faith and by a shared spiritual lineage. But, more than history, these occasions speak to something universal. It's about human dignity, about compassion, about justice and about love.

Yet this season is not only about the history and tradition. It's also a time for pause and reflection, because at its heart this season is about renewal not just of faith but of purpose as a people. As was written in Galatians:

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

That message of freedom, of responsibility and of hope is one that transcends faith and speaks to all of us. So, for those who are honouring Passover, chag sameach, and, for those that are honouring the passing and the resurrection of Christ, have a happy Easter. To all members of parliament and to all communities: may there be peace on earth.

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