Madam Speaker, I thank Mr Parton for raising this matter of public importance in the Assembly today. I suspect those opposite may be growing tired of hearing from the Canberra Liberals about the importance of a well-connected and practical bus network for Canberra’s outer suburbs, but I stand to assure them that those who live in these suburbs haven’t grown tired of this topic yet. Whenever I hold a mobile office anywhere in Belconnen, meet with residents in their homes, or e

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Pregnancy and childbirth are inherently risky. Here in Australia, we have thankfully done much to reduce the risks, but even a healthy woman who is well prepared for labour and delivery knows she may be facing complications. The situation is much different in the developing world. According to the United Nations Children’s Fund, ‘women in the world’s least developed countries are 300 times more likely to die in childbirth or from pregnancy-related co

Thank you, Madam Speaker, and I thank Mr Gupta and Ms Orr for bringing this motion before the Assembly today. This motion addresses issues that I have been raising since becoming a member of this Assembly, and I am happy to see the opposite side of the Chamber recognise and begin to address these issues. The first serious opportunity I had to question this government regarding multicultural matters was during the 2015–16 annual reports hearings. I asked the then minister abou

Canberra’s growing multicultural population enriches our city with its vibrant cultures, faiths, languages and customs. Unfortunately, for several years community groups have struggled to access suitable venues for their events. I have been raising this matter with the Barr Government for two-and-a-half years, both in speeches and through questions to ministers. I specifically wanted to know the government’s plans ‘to guarantee that the ACT’s growing multicultural communities

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My good friend Kanti Jinna likes to share a legend regarding the arrival of Zoroastrian migrants in India. Experiencing religious persecution in their homelands, they determined to find somewhere they could practise their faith in peace. They had heard of a certain king named Jadi Rana who ruled in what is now the Indian state of Gujarat, and specifically that he was a fair and just man. According to the legend, when the migrants from Persia arrived