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Stronger together Prime Minister Anthony Albanese samples baklava with market organiser Ahmad Growsi and mayor Sophie Tan. (City of Greater Dandenong)
Political leaders have backed “social cohesion” at the opening of Dandenong’s Ramadan Night Market last week, while several condemned a “divisive” One Nation party. On Thursday night, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese led a political entourage through the market’s array of food stalls, tasting the baklava and kebabs on offer. “We live in the best country on earth, and it’s made even better by our multiculturalism and the
fact that people of different faiths come and celebrate an event like Ramadan,” the PM said. “How good’s this country? We’ve stronger for the fact that our country celebrates and respects all.” Meanwhile, recent public remarks by One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, suggesting there are “no good Muslims” were strongly repudiated by South East leaders. “Such statements are harmful and risk rein-
forcing stigma, exclusion, and division within our multicultural society,” Wellsprings for Women chief executive Dalal Smiley said. Greater Dandenong councillor and six-time mayor Jim Memeti, who is Muslim, labelled Ms Hanson’s utterance as “completely and utterly false” and “un-Australian”. “In Greater Dandenong we continue to work really hard to bring communities and faiths together, to have really nice social cohesion.
“We put our arm around our fellow Australians whether they’re of Hindu, Christian or Islamic faith and we support one another.” Bruce MP and multicultural affairs assistant minister Julian Hill posted on social media that the comments were “disgusting”. “That sort of dangerous chaos and hate has no place in Australia.” More on the story, turn to pages 2 and 3
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