NEW PHILIPPINE CONSUL GENERAL MEETS NEW SOUTH WALES PARLIAMENTARIANS Consul General Maria Teresa Taguiang (left) with Speaker Shelley Hancock (17 August 2018) – The New South Wales Parliament welcomed new Philippine Consul General Maria Teresa L. Taguiang as she began her official tour of duty in the Australian State. On 8 August, the Philippine Flag was on display in front of Parliament House as the Consul General paid a courtesy call on the Speaker of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly the Hon. Shelly Hancock MP. Deputy Government Whip and Member for Holsworthy Melanie Rhonda Gibbons MP and Clerk of the Legislative Assembly Helen Minnican joined the speaker during the courtesy call. The gathering discussed the history of the NSW Parliament and its role in serving its diverse constituents and communities. The following week, Consul General Taguiang met at Parliament House with members of the Labor Party, headed by Leader of the Opposition Luke Foley MP, Shadow Member for Skills and Member for Londonderry Prudence Ann Car MP, Member for Mount Druitt Edmond Atalla MP, and Member for Blacktown and Mayor of Blacktown City Stephen Bali MP. The delegation informed the Consul General of the substantial number of Filipinos in their respective districts, adding that Filipinos are known to place high values on family and education, and have formed model migrant communities throughout Australia. The Parliament of New South Wales is the law-making body for the State of New South Wales, directly elected by the people to make state laws. Australia has an estimated 246,000 residents who are either Philippine-born or of Filipino heritage, of whom approximately 117,000 reside in New South Wales. The Filipino-Australian Community is one of the fastest-growing ethnic groups in New South Wales, with the majority residing in cities west of Sydney such as Blacktown, Liverpool, Campbelltown, Penrith and Parramatta. (END) Consul General Maria Teresa Taguiang (center) with (from left to right) Edmond Attalla MP, Leader of the Opposition Luke Foley MP, Prudence Ann Car MP, and Stephen Bali MP and Mayor of Blacktown City .