Mr ANOULACK CHANTHIVONG (Macquarie Fields—Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading, Minister for Industry and Trade, Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology, Minister for Building, and Minister for Corrections) (18:32): There is a common saying that I will now borrow: Not every hero wears a cape. Let me also add to that that not every hero gets a blockbuster movie. But the heroes that do wear capes and costumes and that do feature in a few too many movies—the heroes that we can all name, like Spider‑Man and Superman—are, of course, not real. Rather, the real heroes are those who make a real impact on the people in our community and who give so generously their time and energy to improve the lives of others. However, they are unsung in our local community. They seek neither recognition nor reward, but they are certainly worthy of both. Their actions do not always make the headlines, nor do they get the reward that they thoroughly deserve.

But last month I was pleased to attend—along with the member for Liverpool and numerous councillors—the annual NSW Pacific Awards at Ottimo House in Denham Court. Now in its sixteenth year, the awards ceremony is hosted by the NSW Council for Pacific Communities [NSWCPC] and is the pinnacle event on the Pacific calendar. What started 16 years ago as a small community event at the school library in Minto has now morphed into the State's premier community achievement awards for Australians with Pacific ancestry. This year's theme was recognising and celebrating unsung heroes in our local community. The awards are an opportunity to shine a light on the achievements of Pacific Islander Australians and the immense contributions they make to Pacific culture and heritage and to the broader community.

New South Wales is proud to have such a strong and diverse Pacific community. I am even prouder to represent so many of them in my electorate. There is, indeed, a long history of people from Aotearoa and the Pacific Islands making New South Wales their home. Our State has the largest population of Pacific Islander Australians in the country and my own backyard of south-west Sydney has the highest concentration of Australians of Pacific ancestry. Our Pacific community plays an important role in the local community through their involvement in sport, church, charity and advocacy, and small business—just to name a few. Their contributions enrich our State and add to our diverse fabric and social character. As the member for Macquarie Fields, I am proud to call many in the Pacific community my friends.

The awards showcased the strength and success of the Pacific community in south‑west Sydney, where there is no shortage of amazing and extremely talented people. Of the 38 finalists represented on the night, I am proud to say that 14 were from the Campbelltown area. I congratulate all the finalists and award recipients. It was great to see so many local unsung heroes getting the recognition that they deserve. Unsung heroes are the backbone of every community. They are the people we know—our families, friends and neighbours. If the past few years of the pandemic have taught us anything, it is that those unsung heroes make enormous personal sacrifices and commitments to keep us all safe and make our lives so much better. We should acknowledge their efforts and ongoing contributions because it is not only the right thing to do but also reminds us that, through acts of community service, we grow stronger together as a community and as a country.

I thank the NSW Council for Pacific Communities for hosting the special event, as it does every year, in particular its chairperson, Ms Mal Fruean, and the entire executive team. They have all worked extremely hard to advocate for the Pacific community and our wider community. Mal is an inspirational leader whom I have known for a very long time. She does an immense amount of work, and her community involvement is really inspiring. Mal is a true leader for our local community, and I know she will continue to do so many more great things in the future. The 2023 NSW Pacific Awards night was a tremendous success and a pleasure to attend, as it has been every year it has been held. It started in the school library; it is now held in a big function hall. That shows the immense level of support it has across the State. Events such as the NSW Pacific Awards showcase the proud multicultural communities that make our State great. I again congratulate the NSWCPC on bringing the community together to recognise our unsung heroes and the achievements of so many Australians of Pacific ancestry.