Sarah Witty (Melbourne, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

[language not transcribed] Happy New Year to Melbourne's Chinese and Vietnamese communities. On Sunday I had the pleasure of joining the local Vietnamese community at the Lunar New Year festival along Victoria Street in Richmond. The festival was an enjoyable reminder of what this season represents: renewal and good fortune, community, family and traditions shared across generations. Victoria Street was alive. Families and friends gathered to join in the celebrations and enjoy the atmosphere, while local businesses opened their doors to share food, music and culture.

The event was organised by Victoria Street Business Association. Thank you to the team for making it happen. The business association's commitment to supporting local traders and bringing the community together is vital to the success of the festival and to the ongoing revitalisation and strength of Victoria Street throughout the year.

The Vietnamese community has shaped Richmond in lasting and meaningful ways, from small family businesses to community organisations and from food and culture to civic life. Their contribution is woven into the fabric of our city. As a local to Victoria Street, I regularly dine at the restaurants, and I'm grateful for the warmth and welcome I receive.

In a few weeks I will also be attending the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations in Melbourne's historic Chinatown. Melbourne's Chinatown is the oldest continuous Chinese settlement in the Western world, and Lunar New Year celebrations are more than a cultural event; they are a must-see highlight on the city's calendar.

This year we welcome the year of the horse, a symbol of strength, energy and forward momentum. The horse invites us to move forward with confidence and optimism. It is a fitting symbol for Melbourne, a city that thrives when it embraces change and turns diversity into strength. It reflects the leadership, contribution and cultural confidence that the Vietnamese and Chinese communities bring to Melbourne every day.

Together, these celebrations remind us that multiculturalism is not an abstract idea; it is lived, it is shared, and it is built year after year through people showing up for one another. I am proud to be part of a government that understands the strength that comes from diversity and backs it with action. The Albanese government invests in multicultural communities, supports small businesses and works to ensure that every person from every background feels seen, respected and included in our national story.

At a time where social cohesion matters more than ever, Lunar New Year is a reminder that Australia is stronger when we celebrate who we are together. When we make space for culture, language and tradition, we build trust. And when people feel they belong, our community is stronger. Happy New Year, and I wish you a prosperous new year.