Premier Ted Baillieu launched Cultural Diversity Week at the Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC) Annual Gala Ball on Saturday 17 March amongst 1,300 people representing over 200 culture and language groups.
Mr Baillieu said multiculturalism was what made Melbourne one of the most livable cities in the world and described the VMC Annual Ball as the “best night of the year”.
“This is multicultural Melbourne, this is multicultural Victoria, and I believe this is the best night of the year,” Mr Baillieu said.
“Multiculturalism is good for this city, good for the state and good for the nation.”
Mr Baillieu acknowledged Chin Tan the Chairman of the VMC as well as many of the attendees such as the Filipino Elderly Association, the Mauritians, the Turkish community and the Florina Greek Association.
Mr Baillieu said the Indigenous communities’ care of this land was crucial to Australia being a welcoming place for immigrants.
“I acknowledge Indigenous Australians, whose love of the land, whose connection to this place, has left us with something we treasure, something we seek to nurture at every opportunity,” Mr Baillieu said.
Mr Baillieu said Victoria had welcomed communities from all over the world “regardless of hiccups”.
“It’s about coming together, it’s about being together, it’s about living together and about dancing together and that’s what we are here tonight to do,” Mr Baillieu said.
Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship Nicholas Kotsiras said that differences could be harnessed for the benefit of Team Victoria.
“Look around us, we are all different, look around, but all these differences can be harnessed for Team Victoria,” Mr Kotsiras said.
Premier Baillieu spent the night meeting many of the 1,300 guests gathered at the Palladium of the Crown Towers
