Matters of Public Importance
Mr ANOULACK CHANTHIVONG (Macquarie Fields) [6.09 p.m.]: I am delighted to join my colleagues the member for Lakemba and the member for Albury in speaking on, celebrating and commemorating International Mother Language Day. It is a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation recognised day of observance to promote linguistic and cultural diversity. This day also celebrates the fight for freedom and culture of the Bangladeshi people. As a successful culturally diverse nation, it is important and appropriate for us in Australia's oldest Parliament to recognise this day, especially for our growing Bengali community. As the member for Macquarie Fields I am privileged to represent such a culturally and linguistically diverse electorate. My growing local Bengali community adds culture, colour and delicious cuisine to our local community.
On Sunday 14 February 2016, together with Federal member of Parliament Laurie Ferguson, I attended our local Bengali International Mother Language Day event. The local Bengali community always makes me feel welcome at its events and it was a pleasure to witness the singing of national Bengali songs and the reading of poetry, and to see so many young Bengali-Australian children dressed up in the national costume performing for their parents, family and friends. The sight of so many children also made me feel confident that the future of the Bengali language and culture in our local community is in very good shape.
I also recognise Ms Selima Begum, her husband, Tariq, and other members of our Bengali community who put in so much effort to organise the International Mother Language Day event at Ingleburn on Sunday and undoubtedly many other events in our local area. Selima is a leading figure in our Bengali community and, along with many others, works so hard to promote cultural harmony, understanding and diversity in our area. Jobs are agile and global, and we need to make sure that our kids are equipped and equal to the challenges in a competitive and global job market. That is why Selima and her community are working hard to ensure that there is a Bengali language Saturday school for their kids of primary school age in south-west Sydney.
As someone who has a second language, I know that learning a second language should start at an early age, because it is easier to learn when you are young than when you are older. Learning a second language is more than just increasing your vocabulary and word count. It is also about learning the history, customs and traditions of another culture. In my local area, there is an array of languages and cultures: Indigenous, Bengali, Hindi, Chinese dialects, Tagalog, Indo-Chinese languages of Bahasa, and languages of the South Pacific. Our diversity is an intrinsic, valued and permanent part of our social fabric. The kids of New South Wales, the future of our nation, must be equipped with developed linguistic skills if they are to compete with other kids from around the world. That is why Labor's policy of languages in primary schools is good for our students, good for our society and good for our economic future. International Mother Language Day, whether it is celebrated in Dhaka, Ingleburn or Lakemba, recognises the importance and valued contributions a culturally and linguistically diverse community makes to our nation's future. I especially thank my local Bengali community in Macquarie Fields who do so much to make our community a better place.
