Dai Le (Fowler, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Despite real cost-of-living pressures, Lunar New Year remains a vital anchor for our families of Fowler. Right now, our local stores are filled with red envelopes and festive treats—candied ginger, coconut pieces, lotus seeds, and sticky rice cakes wrapped in banana leaves called banh tet and their savoury squared counterpart banh chung.

These are simple but powerful signals of memory and belonging. Our streets are transformed, and I invite members of this House to visit and witness the resilience of my wonderful community. These traditions connect generations. Our families gather to share food and to hand out li xi, which are the red envelopes given to young people carrying wishes of luck, health and a good year ahead. They include money as well, which, as a child, I certainly used to look forward to.

We are farewelling the Year of the Snake and welcoming the Year of the Fire Horse. In many traditions the horse represents rapid change, strong energy and challenge. It reminds us that while the year ahead may move quickly, it demands our collective grit and resilience. There is a lesson here for this House: when pressures rise, progress comes not from noise or division, but from the same cooperation and respect we see in our local communities.

I thank the staff of Liverpool and Fairfield city councils for their tireless work in fostering a sense of belonging through the cultural activities they put together year in, year out. May the Year of the Horse bring health, prosperity and strength to the people of Fowler and to all of Australia.