I would like to talk about a wonderful Queenslander, and I am delighted to advise the Senate that Nazrin Vaziri has won the Creative and Artistic Excellence Award at the Multicultural Awards hosted by Batia Samaj.
Nazrin is a very worthy recipient of this award. She truly deserves this recognition.
Firstly, in her capacity as Executive Director of the Gold Coast Multicultural Grouping Collaboration Association, known as GC MAGIC, Nazrin brings together people from a wide range of culturally and linguistically diverse communities. She helps them express themselves creatively and artistically.
Secondly, Nazrin has played a key role in celebrations for the Persian New Year, Nowruz, in my home state of Queensland. These occasions have been especially important given recent events in Iran. They have played a vital role in bringing Queensland’s Persian community together.
Finally, Nazrin is always there bringing people from different communities together. She represents the very best of multicultural Australia.
So I say to you, Nazrin: you are a great blessing to our Australian community, and thank you for everything that you do.
Acting Deputy President,
I believe young people must be given a voice in this country.
It is incredibly important that we, in this place and in the other chamber, listen to what young people have to say. No one does this better in the Australian Parliament than my very good friend, the Member for Moncrieff, Angie Bell, the Shadow Minister for Arts, Sport and Youth.
I want to congratulate Angie on the Impact Gold Coast Youth Summit. She has been the patron of this summit since it began in 2023, and over the four years of its operation, more than 1,000 Gold Coast young people have participated.
The summit provides an opportunity for young people to come together, build connections and be heard. Those opportunities create aspiration and confidence.
At this year’s summit, Mr Levi Knight, aged 18, spoke powerfully about the financial pressures facing young people, including the cost of university, unpaid internships, transport and everyday expenses.
His contribution symbolised the opportunity this summit gives young people to have their voices heard.
Thank you, Angie. Thank you, my dear friend Angie Bell, for being such a positive voice for young people in this place and in my home state of Queensland.
Acting Deputy President,
I was honoured to attend Rohingya Genocide Remembrance Day in my home state of Queensland.
The commemoration is held annually on 25 August and was convened this year by the Rohingya Genocide Remembrance Day Organising Committee. I thank everyone involved in bringing this important event together.
Terrible events occurred in Arakan, Myanmar, beginning on 25 August 2017 and continuing for many months. Many members of the Rohingya community who attended the commemoration are survivors of those genocidal acts. They lost parents, spouses, children and loved ones.
Today, many are among the refugees who have found safety in Australia and become part of our national story.
Acts of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes were committed against the Rohingya people.
I wish to refer to two important documents. The first, produced by the United States Department of State, is entitled Documentation of Atrocities in Northern Rakhine State.
It is difficult reading, but it is necessary reading. These crimes must be placed on the public record.
On page 12, the report states:
“Multiple witnesses report soldiers throwing infants and small children into open fires or burning huts. Witnesses also report seeing soldiers throw children into rivers, and seeing children’s bodies that had been thrown into village wells. One refugee reported seeing a police officer throw an infant into a river before shooting the mother when she ran into the water to save her child.”
I also refer to the Report of the Detailed Findings of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar, presented to the United Nations Human Rights Council in September 2018.
This 435-page report documents the atrocities committed against the Rohingya people. On page 358, paragraph 1439, it states:
“The attack on the Rohingya population of Myanmar was horrendous in scope. The images of an entire community fleeing from their homes across rivers and muddy banks, carrying their babies, infants and elderly, the injured and dying, will and must remain burned in the minds of the international community.”
The report continues:
“The Mission therefore concludes, on reasonable grounds, that the factors allowing the inference of genocidal intent are present.”
That matter is now the subject of proceedings before the International Court of Justice, and public hearings were held earlier this year in a case brought by The Gambia.
I say: let justice be done. Let justice be done, and let those responsible for these horrific crimes against humanity be held accountable.
The final contribution at the commemoration came from a remarkable young man, Abdur Rahman Iman, who performed a nasheed.
His words included:
“What harm had the innocent little children done? What did they receive from child protection and human rights? They cleared everything away. They emptied Arakan. Whenever we remember our homeland, tears fill our eyes.”
Abdur Rahman Iman has found refuge in Australia and is studying with the hope of becoming a social worker.
Thank you very much, Abdur.
Acting Deputy President,
In 1860, the first Afghan cameleers arrived in Australia. They played an instrumental role in opening up central Australia.
Fast forward 166 years. On 31 August, I was delighted to participate in a citizenship ceremony at Brisbane City Hall.
Among those receiving Australian citizenship was a former senior legal official from Afghanistan. Following the fall of Kabul to the Taliban on 15 August 2021, my office worked tirelessly to help him and his family come to Australia.
It was deeply moving to witness him take the Australian citizenship pledge. I cannot identify him because he remains at risk of persecution due to his former role.
However, I can say this: what a joy it was to see him become an Australian citizen in that magnificent Brisbane City Hall and join our Australian family.
