Andrew Charlton (Parramatta, Australian Labor Party, Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today in the Australian parliament to advocate for the recognition of Australia's Tamil community, one of the fastest growing and most dynamic communities in our country. One year ago, in parliament, I called for January to be declared Tamil heritage month across Australia, to coincide with the significant harvest festival, Thai Pongal. As I said this time last year, Tamil heritage month is an opportunity to celebrate Australia's rich multicultural tapestry, honour Tamil contributions and ensure the ongoing vibrancy of one of the world's oldest living cultures.

Tamil Australians are highly educated and entrepreneurial and make significant contributions across industries such as health, engineering, IT, education and small business. But it's about more than economics; it's about nation building. It's about fostering a sense of belonging and giving Tamil Australians the confidence to fully participate in Australia's democratic and social life.

My electorate of Parramatta is one of the most culturally diverse electorates in the country, with 55 per cent of residents born overseas. It's also home to one of the largest Tamil-speaking communities in Australia. As this population grows, we have a responsibility to support the community and help preserve this ancient culture. That's why I've always advocated for greater support for the spaces and institutions that allow this vibrant culture to thrive. That's why, this year, the Albanese government made the commitment to deliver $7 million in federal funding towards a new cultural hall at the Mays Hill Murugan temple.

The Sydney Murugan Temple holds deep significance for Tamil Hindus but also for the broader Hindu community in Australia. The new cultural hall will include a 800-seat function hall and a 600-seat dining area, as well as foyers, learning rooms, a library and meeting rooms. Our government's $7 million commitment to this hall reflects our recognition of the temple's significance, not only as a place of worship but as a vital centre of common community connection. It's a space for language classes, senior social groups, youth education and cultural preservation, and it provides an opportunity to pass down Tamil music, dance, literature and art to younger generations.

I'm proud to say that work has begun. In August I had the honour of joining community leaders and families for the sod-turning for the cultural hall. This project, which has been many years in the making, is one that will become a cornerstone of Tamil cultural life in our community. But this is only one step towards supporting the community, and our work is ongoing. I want to wish everybody a happy Tamil Heritage Month.