It was my pleasure recently to attend Lunar New Year celebrations at the Mingyue Lay Temple conducted by the Australian Chinese Buddhist Society. I was warmly welcomed by chairman James Chan and president Vincent Kong at the event. I appreciate the organisation of so many volunteers who ensure that this event runs smoothly every year.

The Australian Chinese Buddhist Society supports the local community and has been at the forefront of organising significant donations for flood and bushfire victims. The temple is one of the largest in the southern hemisphere. I was joined by a number of community leaders who spoke of how the community values the temple. It was wonderful to have the member for Reid at the celebration, and I thank her and her mum for her insights of worshipping at the temple as a child and important events in her family's life.

The event was the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, known as the universal birthday. The rabbit symbolises mercy, elegance and beauty, and is the luckiest of the 12 animals. People born in the Year of the Rabbit are calm and peaceful. Thank you again for your hospitality. I wish all of those in my community celebrating a happy Lunar New Year.

link to Hansard: Full Speech