By SAT News Desk
SYDNEY, 21 January 2020: The federal government has thanked the multicultural communities for providing the much-needed supplies and support to bushfire-ravaged communities this summer.
Acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services, and Multicultural Affairs Alan Tudge met with about 50 community leaders in Sydney on Monday (20 January 2020) to thank them for their efforts.
“We often say that we are the greatest multicultural nation in the world, and what better demonstration of that than the work these communities have been doing,” Mr. Tudge said.
“We’ve seen Buddhist monks giving massages to firefighters, Muslim builders putting on barbeques for survivors, Irish truck drivers delivering hundreds of thousands of liters of water, and the Sikh and Hindu communities delivering meals and essential items.
“In crises like these, it is heartening that all Australians, no matter what our background or where we were born, come together to help each other.”
Multicultural communities have also led much-needed fundraising efforts, with the Australian Chinese Charity Foundation alone raising more than $110,000 for the Salvation Army.
“The work of many community groups often goes unnoticed, but it’s important to recognize and acknowledge their valuable contribution,” Mr. Tudge said.
“I commend all those groups who have selflessly given their time and energy to lend a hand to help fire-affected communities.
Mr. Tudge will also be meeting with community leaders in Melbourne soon to thank them for their ongoing efforts in the Victorian bushfire emergency.