Mr ANOULACK CHANTHIVONG (Macquarie Fields ) (16:08): In reply: We are a proud and inclusive multicultural nation. Our record in welcoming people from around the world, their culture and their language, is world's best. I thank the members for the electorates of Seven Hills, Granville and Lakemba for their contribution and support of this matter of public importance. Our cultural diversity gives us a comparative advantage in a continually globalised world. Research clearly shows the benefits of being bilingual or multilingual. Apart from the joys of being able to converse with people from all around the world and being able to travel without having to refer to Google translate for every interaction, having a second, third, fourth or fifth language—if one is that skilful—improves one's cognitive ability to multitask, problem solve and to have a better attention span. It also has a positive effect on one's learning ability and this can impact on educational, employment, income and quality of life outcomes.

The success of promoting and learning mother languages is supported at all levels of government and within our communities. Volunteer groups across the State give up their valuable time to help the next generation of young Australians to keep in touch with their mother tongue or to learn a new one. I take this opportunity to thank all the community members in my electorate and across New South Wales who are committed to encouraging and teaching languages, especially to our young people. The member for Campbelltown, my parliamentary colleagues the Federal members for Macarthur and Werriwa and I are proud of the many language schools across our electorates. The member for Wollongong is also a strong supporter of language and culture initiatives in his electorate.

We have all visited the language schools and know how much effort is being expended to teach mother languages and all the wonderful community events that promote International Mother Language Day. Our level of cross-cultural understanding and respect is all the better for it, and so is the strength of our social cohesion. To celebrate International Mother Language Day in the New South Wales Parliament is a reflection of our strong social cohesion, the depth of our mutual respect for each other, and the strength of our cultural diversity. I thank those in my local community and those in the gallery today for their support of International Mother Language Day. I commend this matter of public importance to the House.