My adjournment tonight is for the Minister for Multicultural Affairs in the other place, and the action that I seek is that the minister join me in my electorate for a visit to the Indonesian Muslim Community of Victoria Baitul Ma’mur mosque in Laverton. As the minister may know, Baitul Ma’mur is a small mosque with a very big heart. It is a place of worship for our local Indonesian Islamic community both in Laverton and across Melbourne’s west more broadly. I first came across this gorgeous little mosque back in 2023, would you believe, through an open mosque day invitation, and I have to say, these are some of the most incredible westies you will ever meet. Happy, positive and with an absolute zest for life is how I would describe the hundreds of families I have met during my many visits. Their doors are always open and welcoming to members of the community, and they are always keen to contribute to the state of Victoria more broadly.
The minister may recall that in 2023 she met with representatives from the mosque with the then Attorney-General to discuss a number of issues pertaining to our anti-vilification reforms – reforms that are now before Parliament this week. Can you believe that? What was really special at the end of last year was that I was able to join the mosque in celebrating the completion of works on their newly renovated kitchen and fabulous new carpet, which our government supported through a $36,818 grant from the Multicultural Community Infrastructure Fund. One of the highlights for me last year was attending the mosque’s annual iftar dinner during Ramadan, which we all know is such an important season for our Muslim community. With Ramadan coming up shortly, I absolutely cannot wait to be welcomed by this community, alongside my own family, who I took last year to the mosque for their annual iftar dinner.
I do want to say to my beautiful Indonesian community there at Baitul Ma’mur: thank you for always making me and my family feel so welcome and part of your family, whether it is at the mosque or even in your own homes. It is why I cannot wait and very much welcome an opportunity for the minister to come on down in person and visit the many families that make up this fabulous mosque and see firsthand the way our government is supporting our diverse multicultural communities, no matter how large or how small they may be.
