The Grand Mufti of Australia, the Chaldean Catholic Eparch of Australia and New Zealand, the Parliamentary Friends of Interfaith along with Members of Parliament met in Parliament House Canberra to hear talks on “Creating a religiously harmonious society in Australia: issues and challenges”. This event was a collaboration of Religions for Peace Australia and the Canberra Interfaith Forum.
Harmony Week 2016
On Wednesday the 16th of March more than 80 people, (religious leaders, politicians and diplomats) attended a Harmony Week Event at Parliament House, Canberra. At the event His Eminence, the Grand Mufti of Australia and Archbishop Amel Nona (Chaldean Catholic Archbishop of Mosul) each gave an address on the topic “Creating a religiously harmonious society in Australia: issues and challenges”. This was followed by 30 minutes of questions to the speakers.
Other speakers were the joint convenors of the Parliamentary Friends of Multiculturalism, Maria Vamvakinou MP, Russell Broadbent MP, Professor Desmond Cahill OAM, Chair of Religions for Peace Australia and Deputy Moderator of the Asian Conference of Religions for Peace and the Chair of Canberra Interfaith Forum, Mr. Dean Sahu Khan.
This was the second event organised by the Federal Parliamentary Friends of Multiculturalism in association with the Canberra Interfaith Forum and Religions for Peace Australia. A number of diplomats attended this function and many federal MPs were present to fly the flag for multiculturalism. Prof. Des Cahill, in his few minutes, was able to introduce his notion of ‘four Bs’ — Believing, Bonding, Behaving and Bridging — as the basis of successful multiculturalism. Prof Cahill went on to highlight the need for wholesome support for intiatives in multiculturalism by federal government.
Speeches:
Download the talk given by the Grand Mufti of Australia
Download the talk given by Chair of Canberra Interfaith Forum, Dean Sahu Khan
Russell Broadbent MP, speaks at the Harmony Week Event
(L-R) Archbishop Amel Nona, His Eminence, the Grand Mufti of Australia, Dean Sahu Khan of Canberra Interfaith Forum
Russell Broadbent MP, His Eminence the Grand Mufti, Prof. Des Cahill, Dean Sahu Khan
House debates
Thursday, 17 March 2016
Constituency Statements
Harmony Day
Harmony Day is celebrated on Monday, 21 March and it coincides with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Harmony Day has been celebrated in Australia since 1999, and it serves as an important reminder that we need to foster an inclusive and respectful Australia, where all Australians feel a sense of belonging and a sense of quality. This year’s theme for Harmony Day is ‘Our diversity is our strength’. We have worked very hard as a country to build a strong and cohesive multicultural society that is often looked upon as a model of success by other countries. We have been successful in settling people from all over the world, and in turn migrants have helped build this country. We as a community are stronger and better for it.
I did have the opportunity this week in parliament to commemorate Harmony Day and celebrate the theme of ‘Our diversity is our strength’. Last night I co-hosted an interfaith dialogue commemorating Harmony Day with my parliamentary colleague and co-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Multiculturalism, the member for Macmillan, Mr Russell Broadbent, in conjunction with Religions for Peace and the Canberra Interfaith Forum.
Religions for Peace is a global, community based organisation working for peace across the world and for social and religious cohesion in Australia and globally. The chair of Religions for Peace, Professor Desmond Cahill, was present to address the audience, and I would like to thank Prof Cahill for his efforts in pursuing interfaith tolerance in the Australian society. I also thank to Sue Ennis from Religions for Peace for helping to coordinate the event.
The Canberra Interfaith Forum is an association of people from 12 different spiritual traditions in Canberra. The forum supports interfaith activities in Canberra and promotes multicultural harmony in the capital within a formal group setting. The chair of Canberra Interfaith Forum, Mr Dean Sahu Kahn, addressed the audience; and I want to thank Dean for his efforts in the Canberra community.
I was also pleased that the two guest speakers for the function were religious leaders who represent two of the largest communities in my electorate—the Islamic community and the Chaldean Catholic community. The Grand Mufti of Australia, Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohamed, holds the highest post for an Islamic scholar in Australia, and Archbishop Amel Nona, the Bishop of the Chaldean Diocese of St Thomas the Apostle of Australia and New Zealand, appointed by Pope Francis last year to lead the Chaldean Catholics in Australia and New Zealand.
The two guest speakers came together to discuss and reflect on the topic, ‘Creating a religious harmonious society in Australia: Issues and challenges’. Whilst the speakers recognise that there are issues and challenges within their communities and their relations within the broader society, they acknowledge that Australia is largely a successful multicultural society. The fact that these two religious leaders could come together and address a religiously diverse audience was the perfect way to commemorate Harmony Day and to reinforce the importance of inclusiveness and the benefits of cultural diversity.
SBS on the Parliamentary Friends of Multiculturalism
