Parliament Iftar Dinner 2023
The 17th Victorian Parliament Iftar was held on the 4th of April at Sofitel Hotel in Melbourne. The event was well attended comprising a diverse audience including members of the federal and state parliament, academia, emergency services, media, non-for-profit organizations, judicial and consular corps. The event was co-hosted by the Australian Intercultural Society, the Victorian Multicultural Affairs Minister, the Hon Colin Brooks MP; and Shadow Multicultural Affairs Minister, Mr John Pesutto MP. The event showcases the importance of cultural diversity and unity within the state of Victoria.
As the sun began to set, Abdul Celil Gelim was invited to recite a few verses from the Quran as the first verses were revealed during the month of Ramadan. This was followed by the call to prayer which echoed through the La Trobe ballroom, signalling the end of the day’s fast.
The event’s Master of Ceremonies, ABC Journalist Norman Hermant, welcomed the guests and shared his reflections about being involved in these iftar dinner gatherings ranging from the formal settings to the home iftar dinners. The first speaker, the Hon. Colin Brooks MP stressed the importance of building connections and understanding across cultures. He added that Victoria has a strong tradition of celebrating diversity and seeing it as a source of our strength. Mr John Pesutto MP addressed the gathering, expressing their appreciation for the event’s significance in building bridges of understanding between different communities. As Opposition leader he was committed for his party to continue to support the strengths of multiculturalism in our state.
The keynote speech was delivered by Taryn Lee, who reminded the audience that even in a city like Melbourne which is home to more than 140 nationalities, still has an ongoing fight against racism. The different manifestations of hate show people are still finding ways to express their hate towards people of difference and this campaign to eradicate hate isn’t over.
One of the highlights of the evening was the spoken word performance by Zaynab Farah. Her powerful words conveyed in her poem titled ‘boxes’ addresses issues of stereotyping and being considered an outsider to mainstream society.
The event concluded with floor reflections from Deputy Chief Judge of the County Court Judge Meryl Sexton, who emphasized the importance of coming together as a community to celebrate our differences and appreciate the unique perspectives that each individual brings to the table. Jon Faine, former radio presenter, reflected on the ongoing struggle our first nations people are still addressing and that as a society we need to move the conversation towards fairer rights and equality to them and others who have been granted a right to stay here in Australia.
Finally, CEO of Crime Stoppers, Stella Smith, delivered the vote of thanks, expressing her appreciation for the event’s success and the efforts of all involved in organizing the event.
The 17th Victorian Parliament Iftar was a testament to the power of interfaith dialogue and cultural diversity. It was an auspicious event showcasing the importance of creating an inclusive and respectful community.
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