COMMUNITY RECOGNITION STATEMENT

Mr ANOULACK CHANTHIVONG (Macquarie Fields)—I had the honour of joining our local Muslim community in Minto for Eid Al-Adha celebrations organised by the Bangladeshi Australian Muslim Welfare Society.

Eid Al-Adha, also known as the "Festival of the Sacrifice", is one of the holiest Islamic holidays celebrated worldwide each year. It is an opportunity for people of Islamic faith to come together in prayer, share food, exchange gifts, and gather with family and friends.

One tradition is the sacrifice of an animal for food to distribute among the faithful, family and friends, and the poor. This offering is an opportunity to remember our common humanity and the importance of helping others. It is a selfless act and one that espouses our shared values of generosity, compassion and goodwill to others.

As the Member for Macquarie Fields, I am proud and privileged to represent people of many different faiths and cultures. I am a firm believer that there is more that unites us than divides us.

I thank the Muslim community for their warm welcome. May our common goals and shared humanity continue to strengthen our nation for the future.