Legislative Assembly
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
3394 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Tuesday 2 August 2011 __________ The Speaker (The Hon. Shelley Elizabeth Hancock) took the chair at 1.00 p.m. The Speaker read the Prayer and acknowledgement of country. PRIVATE MEMBERS' STATEMENTS __________ VIETNAMESE DRUG AND ALCOHOL PROFESSIONALS ASSOCIATION Mr TONY ISSA (Granville) [1.00 p.m.]: I was delighted to be in Cabramatta on 22 June 2011 representing one of the best health Ministers New South Wales has had, the Hon. Jillian Skinner, at an important Drug Action Week event: the launch of the new drug and alcohol information website developed by the Vietnamese Drug and Alcohol Professionals Association. This website was launched in the Vietnamese language to enable the Vietnamese community to access up-to-date information on drugs and alcohol in the privacy and comfort of their own homes. With such a large multicultural community in western Sydney, the importance of these services cannot be underestimated. Today congratulate and thank the Vietnamese Drug and Alcohol Professionals Association for this vital service. This year the theme of Drug Action Week is "Looking after YOUR mind," an opportunity to emphasise and focus on the serious effects of drugs and alcohol on mental health. There is a strong link between mental health disorders and regular or dependent drug use. Often people only think and know about the short-term physical effects of drug and alcohol use but do not consider the effects on their mental health. Approximately 50 per cent to 70 per cent of young people who present with an alcohol or substance use issue also have a mental health problem, and those aged 18 to 24 have the highest prevalence of mental health disorders of any group. Among adults who reported a mental or behavioural problem, 32 per cent were daily smokers, compared with 20 per cent who were not; 15 per cent of adults with reported mental or behavioural problems also consumed alcohol at risky levels, compared with 13 per cent of those who did not; around one in 10 people reported that they had a long-term mental or behavioural problem; and nearly one-fifth of adults reported using some medication for their mental wellbeing within a two-week period. Drug Action Week is a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness of drug and alcohol issues in the community and to showcase how communities are responding to these issues. Once again, I congratulate the Vietnamese Drug and Alcohol Professionals Association and the Vietnamese community in general for leading the way in providing support to members of their community. FROM LAOS TO FAIRFIELD WITH FAITHS AND CULTURES LAUNCH Mr NICK LALICH (Cabramatta) [1.05 p.m.]: It was my great pleasure on Sunday 19 June 2011 to celebrate the launch of the booklet From Laos to Fairfield with faiths and cultures. I thank the Lao Community Advancement Cooperative for hosting this launch, which was held in my electorate of Cabramatta at Bonnyrigg Community Hall. As the Mayor of Fairfield I am very proud that Fairfield City Council has assisted with the production of the booklet by providing a grant of $4,000 under our Community Cultural Grants Program. This is a very important booklet which aims to foster community harmony not only in Fairfield city, but also nationwide. This booklet is about religious groups in the Lao community residing within Fairfield, and particularly in Cabramatta. The grant was to fund the production of a booklet documenting the cultural significance and rituals of the different faiths within the Lao community in Fairfield local government area. The first objective of the Lao Community Advancement Cooperative is to promote friendship and understanding between the Lao people settled in Australia and other ethnic groups. Its second aim is to provide care and assistance to all people from Laos. This includes cultural education, information, referrals, religion, self-help and welfare services to promote and safeguard the cultural and traditional aspects of the Lao heritage. 2 August 2011 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 3395 Intercultural dialogue is the first step to more tolerance and a greater appreciation of our differences. The Fairfield community is made up of people from the four corners of the globe. We are the standard bearers to the success of the multicultural history of this nation. Booklets such as this are important and practical outcomes of council's community cultural development grants. With a brief history of Laos, the only land-locked country in South-East Asia, it then looks at the Lao settlement history in Australia. There are 12,000 Laos-born people living in Australia today, spread far and wide in Albury, Campbelltown, Wollongong, Tamworth, Camden, and Liverpool and more than 2,000 now make Fairfield city their home, adding to the rich tapestry of multi-ethnic communities. Our city— one of the world's most cosmopolitan regions with more than 130 cultural groups—is where 60 per cent of our residents speak a language other than English at home. It is this diversity that makes our city such a wonderful place. Of course, with the Lao community there is rich religious diversity, and although most are Buddhist many are Catholic, Hmong, and Seventh Day Adventist. We are fortunate to live in such a diverse city, where cultures, traditions and religions are shared, celebrated and respected. Events such as this demonstrate our ability as a community to really embrace our diversity. The booklet's promotion of friendship and understanding between the Lao community and other ethnic communities in Australia is a goal shared by us at the Fairfield City Council. It is also worth mentioning my admiration of the many great initiatives that the Lao Community Advancement Cooperative has carried out. One of these is the 18 public housing units that the Lao Community Advancement Cooperative is managing. Its efforts play a significant role in the betterment of our community and in keeping Lao traditions and culture alive and well in our city. It is important for all of us to get involved and show our support to allow these initiatives to continue to grow. I also thank all those individuals who have contributed to the booklet, including religious groups such as the Lao Buddhist group, the Lao Catholic Community of New South Wales, the Hmong Australia Society New South Wales and the Lao Seventh Day Adventist Church. I extend my appreciation to the Lao Community Advancement Cooperative, in particular Mr Pierre Vanthavong, who was an important asset in developing and implementing the project with assistance from the Cabramatta Community Centre. His hard work has greatly contributed to shaping the future of our city. I also acknowledge and thank the other distinguished guests who attended on the day: Mr Oath Sysengrath, President of the Lao Community Advancement (NSW) Co-op Ltd; the Hon. Paul Lynch MP, member for Liverpool; Andrew Rohan MP, Fairfield city councillor and member for Smithfield; Ms Beth Goodwin, Principal of Cabramatta High School; Inspector Steve Thomas, Fairfield Local Area Command; Superintendant Joe Cassar, Cabramatta Local Area Command; and Acting Commander Steve Corry, Green Valley Local Area Command. I thank everyone for being there on the day and thereby showing their support for the booklet and everything it promotes. TRUNDLE TROOPERS Mr TROY GRANT (Dubbo—Parliamentary Secretary) [1.10 p.m.]: Throughout history, mounted troops have been known as elite men of arms. The Australian Light Horse is no different, and wore decoration worthy of the distinction. Folklore has endowed the light horsemen with a mystique and an image that distinguishes them from their fellow diggers. During Parliament's winter recess on 2 and 3 July, I was asked to be part of the Reserve Forces Day held at Parkes, which also marked the ninety-fifth anniversary of the Battle of Romani. As part of the day's events, I presented 13 recognition medallions to wives and partners of former and current serving reservists and six medallions to former original light horsemen of the 6th Light Horse Regiment. I was privileged to present such prestigious awards and honoured to belong to an electorate that has such strong ties and traditions with the Light Horse. But what equally touched my heart was an iconic bunch of lads whom I have come to know quite well and who are affectionately known and revered throughout my electorate as the Trundle Troopers. They are 10 locals from all walks of life who are aged between 30 and 75 years of age. Saddling up on horseback, they strive to keep alive the Australian Light Horse traditions. In doing so they let younger generations know of the contributions the Australian Light Horse has made and the significance of their contribution to the war effort. It would bring a smile to anyone's face to see these men—proud as punch, sitting high on horseback and dressed in uniforms from the 1914 to 1918 era or the 1930 to 1940 campaigns—who are doing all they can to preserve the history, traditions and customs of the Light Horse regiments and their predecessors. 3396 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 2 August 2011 The Trundle Troopers take on a ceremonial role of making several appearances at local shows, on Anzac Day and at official ceremonies. They take part in parades, escorts, displays, re-enactments, rides and sporting activities. They are also involved in collecting and preserving uniforms, weapons and equipment used by the men of the Light Horse as well as in researching, recording and passing on information on the Light Horse. The 6th Light Horse Regiment was commissioned in Sydney in September 1914 and comprised men who had enlisted in New South Wales. They became part of the 2nd Light Horse Brigade and sailed from Sydney on 21 December 1914.