House debates

Wednesday, 22 October 2014

Statements by Members

Walk Together

1:39 pm

Photo of Jason ClareJason Clare (Blaxland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Communications) Share this | | Hansard source

A few weeks ago I said Australia is like a fruit salad: we all like apples, orange and watermelon, and they are great on their own, but they are even better when they are together. Australia is exactly the same: we are better when we are all together. If you agree then this weekend you have an opportunity to show it. This Saturday in cities and towns right across Australia people will come together and walk together to celebrate multiculturalism and diversity and say no to racism and bigotry. If you want to know more about it, just Google 'walk together'.

Yesterday we lost a Labor legend in Gough Whitlam. He was the father of multiculturalism. He was the architect of the Racial Discrimination Act. Gough is now gone, but his ideas, his policies, his vision live on. They live on in us, and this weekend we have an opportunity to celebrate that.

In Sydney the walk will start at Sydney Town Hall at one o'clock, and I will be there. If you believe, like me, that we are the best country in the world and that we are the best country in the world because we are made up of people from all around the world living in harmony then come and walk with me. Let's show the country that, just like that fruit salad that I talk about, we are better when we are all together.