Joanne Ryan (Lalor, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It was wonderful to be home for five weeks recently and attend community events cross the electorate of Lalor. During that time, I had cause to think about Australian values. As it happened, I had been to a series of community events. We had Easter—a time of family for me—and then we had Anzac Day, where we honour tradition. In my electorate we also had Sikh Heritage Day—where, again, we honoured a tradition of Australians. I also attended a citizenship ceremony in that week. Listening to the Australian National Anthem, particularly the second verse, I focused on the Australian values being celebrated. Courage is celebrated in the second verse of the Australian National Anthem. Hard work is celebrated in the second verse of the Australian National Anthem. My favourite line is: 'We'll toil with hearts and hands.' It captures something very special about Australia. Of course, it also celebrates a welcome to hearth and home—not specifically an Australian value, but a universal value. It celebrates putting out your welcome mat and putting the kettle on to make a cup of tea for a visitor. I was pleased to be home to share time with my community across that five weeks and, most of all, I was pleased to share Australian values.