Media Release by The Hon Scott Morrison MP

Celebrating multicultural Australia

Minister for Social Services, the Hon. Scott Morrison will tonight join thousands of Muslims celebrating at Sydney’s Chand Raat Eid Festival to mark the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.

“On behalf of the Abbott Government I would like to wish everyone Eid Mubarak,” Minister Morrison said. “Celebrating our cultural and religious heritage is an important part of being Australian.

“This significant event marks the end of Ramadan and the start of annual Eid ul-Fitr festivity.

“Australia is a peaceful, safe and secure nation bringing together people from many backgrounds, cultures and religious beliefs which helps to make our society more culturally rich and diverse.

“The Abbott Government continues to work across communities to strengthen this diversity and help build resilience, understanding and social cohesion in partnership with other governments, both state and local and community groups, and not for profit organisations. This includes a range of projects and initiatives such as:

  • The Community Hubs programme, running at Dandenong South Primary School in Victoria, where amongst other things, newly arrived Muslim women can improve their understanding of parenting in Australia. Community Hubs link families and their children to support services, learning opportunities and the wider community. 30 new Community Hubs have come on line this year and are funded by the Commonwealth Government in partnership with the Scanlon Foundation, the Migration Council Australia and Refuge of Hope (www.scanlonfoundation.org.au/project/project-6).
  • The National Anti-Racism Strategy through the Racism it Stops with Me campaign, where Sydney Rabbitohs Greg Inglis and Sydney Swans Adam Goodes join lots of everyday Australians, proudly taking a stand against racism. This hugely successful partnership works across all levels of government and encourages the community and individuals to stand up together, whenever it is safe, to take action against racism, in all its different forms, wherever it is seen or heard. (http://itstopswithme.humanrights.gov.au)
  • National Mosque Open Day – a day that sees Mosques across Australia, including Sydney, encouraging visitors to visit a Mosque, in their local community or elsewhere to build greater understanding and mutual respect regardless of faith. (www.lma.org.au)
  • ‘TRACTION’ an out-of-school arts, music, and performance programme targeted at young people aged between 13-17 years old in Logan City. Queensland Theatre Company brings together students from various schools to work with professional actors and artists through workshops in things like acting, writing, stage combat, beat boxing with an end of year live performance. Key goals include learning about artistic career pathways and working with respect and acceptance in a diverse group. (www.queenslandtheatre.com.au/traction)

“Each one of these projects is an example of the Abbott Government’s commitment to continuing to build on the enormous successes that have been brought about by our diversity and making sure that anyone who settles in Australia can feel safe and secure.

“I thank all our communities for their dedication and commitment to the peaceful and harmonious future of our nation,” Minister Morrison said.